That's sensible, but sometimes great things emerge from being not sensible (RAH's "all progress depends on the unreasonable man"). Provided the upfront cost is zero and it's taken as a fun, lighthearted project, the experiment doesn't seem harmful. And it gets you out in contact with "customers" - who knows what you'll learn?
1. Perhaps instead of the post's "to see if there is a demand for your service.", to also see what the demand is, i.e. how much people would pay.
2. Being first in itself is a competitive advantage (not a very secure one, but it is one). You have the opportunity to discover other competitive advantages, by understanding the many aspects of the specifc business and its specific customers, and creating solutions. These could be bespoke, but some could also build on top of open source (as infrastructure, like everyone else does) and ad networks.
It's not a safe bet! It's like a series of dynamic moves in rock climbing without looking first. No one would fund you! But if you are observant and capable, who knows? Even if you don't achieve what you wanted, you might achieve something else.
3. Why couldn't it start locally, grow slowly, and be bootstrapped - assuming the transport needed is local? I think a problem is, if you do demostrate the concept is viable, someone with capital will just take the rest of the market - and then the bit you did too.
1. Perhaps instead of the post's "to see if there is a demand for your service.", to also see what the demand is, i.e. how much people would pay.
2. Being first in itself is a competitive advantage (not a very secure one, but it is one). You have the opportunity to discover other competitive advantages, by understanding the many aspects of the specifc business and its specific customers, and creating solutions. These could be bespoke, but some could also build on top of open source (as infrastructure, like everyone else does) and ad networks.
It's not a safe bet! It's like a series of dynamic moves in rock climbing without looking first. No one would fund you! But if you are observant and capable, who knows? Even if you don't achieve what you wanted, you might achieve something else.
3. Why couldn't it start locally, grow slowly, and be bootstrapped - assuming the transport needed is local? I think a problem is, if you do demostrate the concept is viable, someone with capital will just take the rest of the market - and then the bit you did too.