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Want to be successful? Build around the Bixi!

Denis — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:15:11 +0000

This is fairly obvious but when there’s a new product that’s quite popular, try to look at an existing (or similar) product in another country and duplicate the successful ideas. Here’s an example: Bixi. This is fairly new here in Montreal but "rent a bike" systems are not new. They exist in other cities around the world and someone who’s smart enough ougth to look at products and services around the "rent a bike" idea. So go out there, look around and you’ll get a great idea.

We almost saw a very good example with the Bixi Mobile application for the iPhone but it was quickly and sadly put back in its grave.

Also, try to think out of the box. Here’s a free idea that I had a few days ago. I don’t know if it would workbut it doesn’t really matter. I even found a funny name for my idea. I would call it "Caxe". If you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s a play on "casque" (helmet) and "bixi". See, most cyclists wear a helmet and if you rent a Bixi, you most likely won’t have one with you. Not only that, what will happen to the Bixi’s once a regulation forces everyone to wear helmets? So why not ink some sort of agreement and lease helmets next to the Bixi’s?

This is just an idea out of the many ones out there. Here’s another one. Cater to tourists (and locals!) by printing special coupons on the back of receipts. It is very easy to find out if a bixi user is from Montreal or abroad by looking at the credit card number. Bixi could print rebates according to that factor including coupons to restaurants located not too far away from the current location. While this idea needs to be implemented by Bixi themselves, there’s gotta be a middle man to find the sponsors…

As you can see, there’s plenty of ideas around popular products!

Pour les lecteurs francophones / For French readers

Denis — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:29:24 +0000

J’ai décidé de démarrer un nouveau blogue en français qui discutera de divers sujets mais en particulier de tout ce qui touche le web et la technologie pour les entreprises (petites, moyennes et grandes) ainsi que pour les gens en général. D’autres sujets comme la sécurité de l’information et la continuité d’affaires y seront également discutés.

Bref, si vous avez une entreprise ou si vous pensez en démarrer une, je vous invite à visiter mon nouveau site, DenisCanuel.com

Je vais continuer à écrire des articles sur le démarrage d’entreprise et la technologie sur ce blogue, en anglais.

Merci à tous les lecteurs!

When does a “project” become a “startup”?

Denis — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:38:08 +0000

So you have this idea and you start working on it. It’s just a tool, something people use once in a while. You know, one of those “projects”.

Then it gets bigger and bigger. People like it. People really start using it.

We see this all the time. People’s projects become bigger things. But when do you consider a pet project to be a startup? When you make money is one of the obvious answers but think again! Many startups DON’T make any money. When you’re profitable? Then again, lots of startups will never be profitable?

So my question to you is: do you have projects and how do you manage them especially when you know it won’t pay the rent?

iPhone Dev Wanted

Denis — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:50:32 +0000

I’m looking for a junior iPhone developper. This is for a very small project. Remunation to be discussed. Feel free to forward me leads if you know anyone who might be interested. Thanks!