zlacker

[return to "The quiet death of Ello's big dreams"]
1. Lerc+yT[view] [source] 2024-01-18 20:36:33
>>waxpan+(OP)
Taking investor money means users will required to pay, one way or another.

Without an explicitly capped profit, I can't see how this doesn't eventually lead to exploitation of the users.

I would like to see a donation/optional subscription model with tiered features as is seen in Patreon/Kickstarter etc. with the distinction that the tiers are community wide instead of being bound to the individuals donating.

Display an income bar. If it drops to zero the servers turn off. If it drops below 1 nobody can post. If it is above 1 you have Direct messaging, above 2 you have more features, etc. Keep the communication clear as to what is being provided and how it is being paid for.

Most people won't pay, but if nobody pays there is no service. Its survival would depend upon providing a service that satisfies enough people to sustain the support. This certainly wouldn't be as lucrative as a exploit the users model, but the idea is not to make a fortune, but to simply run a sustainable enterprise.

◧◩
2. rgbrgb+431[view] [source] 2024-01-18 21:19:14
>>Lerc+yT
Income bar / donation thing sounds extremely stressful and precarious if you're paying anyone a salary.

Capped profit is interesting since it doesn't limit the business model, just the likelihood of enshitification.

◧◩◪
3. wavemo+Yh1[view] [source] 2024-01-18 22:33:34
>>rgbrgb+431
Running a startup AT ALL is extremely stressful and precarious if you're paying anyone a salary. 90% of startups die in flames. Stress and danger are table stakes, I would think.
◧◩◪◨
4. rgbrgb+wD3[view] [source] 2024-01-19 17:07:37
>>wavemo+Yh1
absolutely, i'm very familiar with that stress. but committing to a donation only business model for a product you're giving away for free is playing the startup game on ludicrous mode.
[go to top]