This is my 1s rails project, and I was looking for best learning practices. So I asked around (twitter, facebook) and got 2 types of responses: friends who also wanted to learn, and friends who could help out.
So this is actually what I built: an app to tell your friends what you need. Your friends can "+1" (they have the same need) or help out (commenting, offering their help).
I would love your feedback as much on the concept than on the execution. I built this in about 2 weeks, and will iterate based on your comments!
Thank again!
Grope + People = Grople ?
Obligatory Grapist video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqq051BU2MY
Sort of reminds me of zaarly.com
Only those that think they deserve what they're asking for will ask. The problem boils down to self worth. If I truly believe that I am worth (a million dollars|to be funded|a beer|a lesson in rails), then I will get it [1]. In this sense, this tool does a great job of connecting a need to those who can possibly fulfill that need within your social network.
Those without the confidence to ask will be left in the dust. They will see this as another divisive tool between the haves and have nots.
If you can solve the problem of self worth, that is a billion dollar problem [2]. Its not a problem many of us in the start-up world consider. I think you must have a relatively high enough self worth to with stand failure and keep self promoting a start-ups.
We all deserve the very best in life. Some of the unhappy people I know are afraid to ask for the very best, or just don't think they deserve it. I think your tool is a step in the right direction.
[1] Within reason. If I ask for a trillion and believe I'm worth a trillion, I will get what I asked for. That is, my peer group will let me know that is silly.
[2] Also cooler than a million dollar problem
Limit the number of "requests" and/or dollar amount a person can submit. If a user invites a friend who then signs up and/or makes a request, the original user could earn more requests. This would provide an incentive for the "high self worth" people to encourage their lower-self worth friends to ask for things.
Just a thought...
Your startup name becoming a verb is something earned, not something you can just create or start doing.
Doesn't make sense?
A barbecue?
A code review (i.e., something they're particularly good at)?
"Tell your friends what your need" should be "you", not "your".
Say my friend needs help fixing her bike, something I know how to do. She puts the call out and I volunteer. How much do I ask for? $20? $30? Not really life-changing sums, and getting much more than that makes it awkward. This is why that the currency for bike nerds is 6-packs.
What would be a lot more interesting for me is skill swapping: I'd be happy to teach someone to fix their bike if they gave me help learning the guitar. Then not only do I learn a new skill (which is worth a lot more than $20), I get to spend more time with a friend (or associate, or stranger).
Consider the value exchange that's going to take place between your users, and I think it gets a lot more compelling.
And I'm not really feeling the name either, I also thought of the Grapist.
a few nits:
- your URL scheme is no good (/projects/<number>), should be something more readable
- the footer should read, "bear with us, we have cool things brewing" and not "we got"
- your homepage doesn't actually explain what effect "gropling" something has, if any
