[gt565k]

Yup... as if somehow there's a magic answer for some of the most general questions and it's hiding in the YC crowdsourced brain.

If you had to ask that question, you need to take 5 steps back and watch YC's startup videos, read PG's essays, learn a thing or two about understanding markets and research your idea to see if it has been validated by others. Sitting around and pondering if something is a good idea without a plan or understanding what value is being created is no good.

Take action: research, build MVPs, talk to people (your end users / potential customers). The only ones that can validate your idea are your end users / customers.

Focus on building something users want or need and build it so well that once they use it, they can't go back to their normal without it. Monetization comes after your prove there's a demand for your product. You can fantasize all you want about how to make money off an idea, but if no one wants to use your product, it doesn't matter.