Apane's comments

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Selling my baby

About $30/mo. It cost approx $43,000 to build, looking to recoup at least 50% of that.

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2017)

Toronto, Ontario | Looking for full-stack ruby-on-rails developer.

Our company is FV, Inc. We're in the process of re-branding, we have a new design underway and have a new domain. We're looking for a full-stack developer that can lead the new launch and help us merge the new front-end with the existing back-end.

We're also looking for someone who can grow into the CTO role.

Please email [email protected] with some recent projects, github etc...

Thanks!

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Rate My Startup

Good point. Need another layer of value to justify thinking of using an app like this when hungry.

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Rate My Startup

3. Our business model is that you pre-pay for the recommended meal to get the deal.

5. Right now we're solving something that neither Yelp nor Foursquare solves and that's the Paradox of choice. With them you can see what restaurants are around you, and read some reviews but you still don't know what to eat there. It might get you in the door but you're still taking a shot in the dark. With us, we only create a few set-menu meal deals that you can choose from that are rated best, by local foodies. So you're essentially browsing what's around you by top rated meal, instead of restaurant.

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Rate My Startup

We're different in that we want to ONLY show you the recommended items from each place, so you don't spend time going through the menu, you basically get a snapshot of what we recommend at each restaurant near you. Why do we recommend it? We have professional "foodies" who literally travel to try and review restaurants that make these recommendations then we put them up at a deal for you to try it.

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Rate My Startup

Very good feedback, but do you ever think "I'm tired of the same old places, what else is there around me that's good?, and affordable to try". Looking to solve that problem.

Apane | 9 years ago | on: HN – Rate my startup

Thanks, yeah it's good for discovery when you're out and about. Any feedback on product?

Apane | 9 years ago | on: HN – Rate my startup

First thing I noticed by looking at google analytics is that none of you who've visited the site have clicke "view details" why is that? Don't you want to see what the restaurants are offering?

Apane | 9 years ago | on: Ask HN: Do you host or attend Meetups?

So we're different in a few ways,

1. our users don't need an account on our site to buy tickets, we've basically removed the barrier. You can share the link to your event with your meetup group, and the members can easily purchase the tickets, with no account, they fill in basic info name, email, etc... They're then emailed a digital voucher that they present upon arrival, with a unique reference number that can be tracked verified by the event organizer.

2. You can create re-occuring events, and select which days of the week the event happens, e.g. [X] Mon, Tues, Wed, [X] Thurs, Fri, between 5pm-8pm.

So it's a way for you to generate regular sales on a weekly basis, by hosting weekly work shops etc... as opposed to a one off event. You won't have to keep re-creating them if you are planning on hosting regular workshops, it's sort of a new model in that way. Or you can host a one time event, and create them as you go, you have that flexibility to choose.

3. We take a small transaction fee per booking, only 7% so we only get paid when you get paid.

Apane | 9 years ago | on: When should I pivot?

so the conviencince of booking online, and reserving all in one shot and not having to take out your wallet at the restaurant, isn't enough? we'd need a really compelling discount to make people take action and find real value? What kind of discounts are we talking, 35-50%? Or in other words, what would it have to be, for you to use it? IF you would use it, or maybe you wouldn't, and if so, why?

Apane | 9 years ago | on: When should I pivot?

Thanks, fixed the link.

We have done some marketing via LinkedIn ad's, facebook ad's, even paying for influencial foodies, who have large followings on instagram to try a complimentary meal/booking using fastvenues.com and reviewing it, and even with a really positive review, not one real conversion. What's wrong with the product? Why or why wouldn't you use Fastvenues.com to book/reserve a unique/discounted meal at a great local restaurant?

Apane | 9 years ago | on: When should I pivot?

You can even make a booking WITHOUT an account, by checking out as a guest, still nothing. We need advice. What's wrong with the product? Why would or wouldn't you use it to find and book a unique/discounted meal at a local restaurant. You would use UberEats I'm sure for convienient delivery, or JustEat for take-out orders, why not use Fastvenues.com for the dine-in experience?

Apane | 9 years ago | on: When should I pivot?

The product has been built for 6 months, and we've been pursuing customers, hiring and firing sales reps, it's been a very tough battle. We've signed up 10 real restaurants, that are able to process payments and orders/bookings, but our marketing efforts using Linkedin ads, facebook etc... are un-promising. Out of 1000 targeted visitors not one has converted to a booking. You can even make a booking WITHOUT an account, by checking out as a guest, still nothing. We need advice. What's wrong with the product? Why would or wouldn't you use it to find and book a unique/discounted meal at a local restaurant.

Apane | 10 years ago | on: How to Make it as a Millennial

There's a bunch of gurus that have done this and have been tremendously successful. To name a few: Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Tai Lopez, James Altucher. I'm sure there are cases that haven't been as successful, but show me one business that doesn't have failures? The point she was making was with the internet you can become a successful personality because with great content you can build up an audience without a middle man.
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