[inuhj]

There are entrepreneurs whose primary income is serving as 'glue' through networking. They are constantly tapped to connect companies and bring projects to life. Typically they make themselves available to solve problems for you and make introductions.

[ForHackernews]

Is there a business opportunity to figure out how to cut out these expensive middlemen? Some kind of bidding market? TaskRabbit-for-the-enterprise?

[hnaccount141]

That wouldn't really be cutting out the middleman so much as it would be becoming the middleman though.

[ForHackernews]

"Becoming a cheaper/faster/more convenient middleman" describes almost every technology business.

[jvagner]

Doing it yourself.

As someone who personally grew up with and knows at least one relatively famous one of these, you're not going to replace him.

[ForHackernews]

Everyone says they're irreplaceable right up until an algorithm takes their job.

[seem_2211]

Absolutely not.

[jedberg]

Wait you mean I can make money doing that? I just do it for free! I figure one day someone will return the favor.

[maksimilian]

Do you have any examples? Or can you explain how exactly it would work to make these connecting people financially lucrative?

[inuhj]

Person A is a consultant/investor of business A who is looking to expand their retail footprint to a new geography. They have a friend, person B, who is a big networker. Person B knows the landlord of a business at a suitable location and introduces the two parties. The networker gets an option to invest, finds an investor willing to split the upside, and takes a mid 6 figure success fee with no money invested. The work done is pretty minimal and the entire thing relies heavily on knowing other wealthy individuals and successful entrepreneurs.