[chiefofgxbxl]

Cool batch, particularly LemonBox which provides personalized vitamin packs to buyers in China. There's a huge user base right there, and I imagine the U.S. market is largely saturated / competitive already.

I must respectfully express my concern over: "Grabb-it Inc. turns rideshare cars into digital billboards." There's probably a market for it as online advertisers face an uncertain future with possible regulation, and at least scrutiny, of social media companies, but is this really the future we want to build? Where the only goal of some of these companies is to unrelentingly cover every square inch of the world with ads? Surely there are lawsuits waiting to happen when drivers, distracted from these eye-catching ads on all the cars around them, kill people.

I am worried that our public spaces are turning increasingly hostile to our citizens. Won't this trend continue to make the public space more unpalatable?

[greglindahl]

All we need is a YC-backed AR startup that removes ads from your personal visual space. Although it might be difficult to get that tech safe enough to be used while driving.

[anoncoward111]

hahahahahahah.... classic mafia extortion techniques. Create a problem, then demand people pay you to remove it.

[maxxxxx]

Totally agree. Coming up with an idea to serve even more ads is not something to be proud of. Take your money and develop some new technology instead.

[goatherders]

Why? This hits at the heart of startup porn. It's about money. It's only about money. It's only ever been about money. This is a good way to make money so it exists. I'm happy for startups that don't hide behind their capitalist mission.

[maxxxxx]

True. I just don't think we should celebrate these startups.

[mylons]

an investment isn't a celebration. it's a bet that there will be a return on that investment.

[necubi]

Even worse, according to the techcrunch article [0] the projection screen is mostly opaque, so passengers won't be able to see out the window.

[0] https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/15/grabb-it-wants-to-turn-you...

[kkaranth]

Later in the same article:

> It’s meant to only run when the driver is between rides. Once a passenger hops in the car, the projector is shut off — because, well, no one wants a projector blasting light in their face on the way to their next meeting.

So, they intend to use it as a means for drivers to make money when they are not in the middle of a trip.

[pantheon]

I agree. I think DMV should ban this if it ever happens. I imagine it would feel like in Times Square everywhere. There is a reason why tail lights are red and not replaced with displays that show ads.

This is terrible idea and poor investment.

[seanmcdirmid]

So is LemonBox basically a daigou in startup form? I’m not sure what their advantage will be vs. the very numerous amount of small players that already do this.

I also wonder if they misunderstand the vitamin market in China. Whereas it is mostly bros looking to buff up in the states, in China, you buy them abroad to show your elderly parents/grandparents you care for them. But maybe my views are outdated?

[briandear]

Are vitamins actually useful? The vast majority of people who eat normally don’t need vitamin supplements. It’s all mostly scammy to me: selling people a product that has almost no value unless you are malnourished. It’s big business sure, but it’s on the level of homeopathy for most people. Providing vitamins to undernourished kids might be valuable, but there isn’t any money in that. Vitamins are right up there with “organic” in terms of quantifiable health benefits.

[AznHisoka]

There are multi-vitamins and then there are supplements. Personally, I find the former useless but there are many supplements that are useful for various ailments. For example, melatonin if you find it hard to fall asleep, DGL licorice and probiotics if you got digestive issues. Some people swear by certain B-vitamins for acne as well. Different supplements work for different people.

[seanmcdirmid]

Chinese already have faith in unempirical Chinese medicine, I don’t think vitamins are much less reliable than that.