Ideahack give imput!

thejackal1177

thejackal1177

Active member
I am going to the startup institute. We are actually working with the creative director of apple and we are pitching a new idea/app/product. Just with my group, curious how many people would use an app focused on connecting skiers to ski together at the mountain?
 
well if it was free, im sure you would get lets of people interested. i would definateley be down for expanding my friendships with more people on the hill
 
Awesome, id people want this spread this thread around and get more people to respond, so i can validate it to my group. it would deffinatly be free
 
I would actually probably use something like this on the days I go ride alone, or if me and a friend are visiting a new mountain and want to connect with a local to get to the best terrain.

I'll call the app LapBuddy (you can use this name in exchange for 1% equity in the company)

Ideally you'd just have to boot it up when you get to the mountain. GPS detects the mountain you are at and all other riders at that mountain with LapBuddy on. You could then set some filters to connect with other riders, perhaps by skill level, what type of laps you are looking for (park, trees, groomers, slackcountry etc.), maybe gender or age, skiing or snowboarding, and other things of that nature. I think LapBuddy needs a chat feature integrated into the application, where you can text other individual LapBuddies to meet up--either anyone with the app on at the mountain, or a narrowed down list based on the filters. It may also be cool if there was an open sharing page that you could post short video clips or pictures that other LapBuddies could see (haven't used snapchat but maybe this is something similar to a snap story or whatever they are called). I'd keep profiles really simple, like Tinder profiles --first name, age, what type of skiing/boarding you are into, maybe a funny quote, and a picture or two of you in your outerwear for easier identification when meeting up with other LBs.

I'm not really into apps to be honest (for the most part I see them as a get rich quick scheme that doesn't really create the innovation or consumer value that they promise), so I'm not quite sure the optimal way to monetize it. I think as a consumer, I'd prefer a one time fee to get the app between $1-$5. I get annoyed by in-app advertisements, as I think they detract from the functionality and overall experience of using apps, although when apps to have ads I prefer the ones that only have a single 15 second ad upon starting the app. Fuck banner ads, though my intuition tells me they are the most profitable.

And of course, LapBuddy would be an application thats only good if people use it. When pitching, make sure you cover how you are actually going to attract consumers and create a sustainable network externality
 
It would be monotized through a marketing opportunity through the resorts. They would know your social connections and be able to target you with great ski deals.
 
I'm just spitballing here, if on specific days a resort can offer discount passes to app users, and perhaps the increased volume on that day would make up for the losses on the discounted tickets? Organize so only one resort in the region has a discount on any given day. So for example in NH, on Jan. 3rd Cannon may have the app discount and on Jan. 4th it's for waterville, on the 5th its for Loon, etc.

It seems like you know a bit about this kind of stuff and I don't, so I don't know if my suggestions are way off and you are just looking positive validation to bring back to your group.
 
The group decided to go with a way to hitch a ride with someone going the same direction as you. I liked the ski collab idea alot better, but we have 4 hours to make this pitch so i decided to just agree.
 
An app for people without the social skills to start up a conversation on the chairlift. This is pretty sad.
 
13461819:VinnieF said:
An app for people without the social skills to start up a conversation on the chairlift. This is pretty sad.
Click to expand...

silly, reductive description. what do you think the sheer odds are of you even being within speaking distance of someone in the lift line who is at your general skill level, and has the same (skiing) interests as you?

i think it's a great idea. some of the coolest people ive met in my life have been people i met on the hill who hurried up or slowed down to meet up after happening to see me on the hill and noticing we were into the same style of skiing. something like this making that whole process more efficient would be really helpful sometimes
 
13461871:Titsandwich11 said:
silly, reductive description. what do you think the sheer odds are of you even being within speaking distance of someone in the lift line who is at your general skill level, and has the same (skiing) interests as you?
Click to expand...

I don't mind as long as they can semi-keep up and aren't a super beginner. As said above, finding people is actually really easy, (at least with my small hill experience) I've never had a problem finding people to ride with. And how do you know that this app will solve the "skill level problem" when everyone claims to be the best skier on the mountain?

Also don't name it lap buddy unless you are making it a tinder type thing.
 
13462246:Poikenz said:
I don't mind as long as they can semi-keep up and aren't a super beginner. As said above, finding people is actually really easy, (at least with my small hill experience) I've never had a problem finding people to ride with. And how do you know that this app will solve the "skill level problem" when everyone claims to be the best skier on the mountain?

Also don't name it lap buddy unless you are making it a tinder type thing.
Click to expand...

i didn't say the app is 100% necessary or that i predict it will be an amazing success, just that it's a good idea and could be very helpful

yeah, ive met up with and ridden with strangers a ton, like i posted, and sometimes it's very easy. but it's a cool part of skiing that could be supplemented with the right app. and people will obv need to use the app correctly to have it work correctly.....

honestly what came to mind for me is when im riding with my gaper friends and occasionally id love to break off for a few runs and go get it with someone else who happens to be around and wants to send it. that guy doesnt need to be some exact, specific skill level, he just has to be proficient to some degree and want to get after it like i do
 
Dunno if it's been mention, but there is an app out there that does precisely that. It's called snocru and aims to connect people to make ski crews and see what friends are in the area and stuff (also has the basic map, speed, airtime i think and some other classic ski app features). I had it, made an account, there is literally no one ever on it so stopped using it. If a lot of people used an app like this though, I would be interested.
 
my phones dead about 90% of the time I'm skiing so I wouldn't find an app like this useful. Plus, as mentioned above, what's wrong with starting up a conversation with someone in the lift line, lift, park, lodge, etc...
 
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