Ask HN: Review my startup Hachi (a tool to connect smartly)

[hachilabs]

Hachi launched into private alpha last month. It's still a minimum viable product - we have a long way to go, and lots to do.

Hachi warms any cold call - it helps you connect smartly with anyone you want to reach out to (or connect with). Just input the name of the person, and Hachi will search thru all your social networks to find the best person to ask for a personal intro. Currently, Hachi searches 2 social networks, and we're working on adding more.

Demo video is on our splash page - http://www.gohachi.com/

Sign-up at http://www.gohachi.com/users/register , using the invite code: HN100

Would love to hear your thoughts and/or suggestions.

[naada]

First of all.. wonderful idea!

I tried logging in twice and this is what Hachi showed me

Warning (2): Invalid argument supplied for foreach() [APP/services/users_service.php, line 255] Warning (2): Invalid argument supplied for foreach() [APP/services/users_service.php, line 264] Warning (2): Invalid argument supplied for foreach() [APP/services/users_service.php, line 303] Warning (2): Invalid argument supplied for foreach() [APP/services/users_service.php, line 333] Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/hachilabs/hachilabs.com/cake/libs/debugger.php:673) [CORE/cake/libs/controller/controller.php, line 742]

[thevivekpandey]

Hi naada, (I am the lead developer of this application) Thanks for saying "wonderful idea". Too bad that you cannot yet say "wonderful execution"! I have too noted this error a few times. I hope to get back to you in a while, after resolving this error.

[hachilabs]

Hey - sorry that this happened. We'll look into it right away. Do give it a try after a while!

[naada]

Hey Hachi, thanks for noting comment. I wonder if the user/customer will come back after saying him "Do give it a try after a while" instead, I think more appropriate way would be to tell/respond him when you are done fixing the issue, rather than user checking whether the issue is fixed. Also, the later deepens the bond between you and user(taking appropriate (such) small steps makes all the difference and this is what separates you from your competitors coz everybody has hold on bigger steps). -Hope this helps :)

[hachilabs]

hey - great suggestion! makes total sense - we will let you know when it's fixed. thank you :)

[nithinpb]

This seems to have some issues. I tried many different connections and none worked! I tried a direct connection as well. Apart from that, I suggest including a "text message" in the search bar to inform users what they can enter. I had a question - "Instead of entering a username, can I enter "Sales at Amazon" and will your system get my connections at Amazon?" - didn't know where to look for. Also a small change - Move logout link to top with FAQ, About as the linkedin alert masks it. Finally, consider providing cross connection through linkedin and facebook. That would be useful. Otherwise this would just be another implementation of Facebook connect.

[hachilabs]

Hey sorry to hear that you could not find any connection paths.

1. Can you tell me if the direct connection you were looking for, was it a facebook or linkedin connection? This is really surprising that you could not find a direct connection.. we'll definitely look into it.

2. Re. text in the search bar -we'll make it more clear. Right now, we just have 'name' search, and advanced search like 'company' search is on the cards in the near future.

3. Re. Logout link - we'll look into that as well.

4. Cross connections - actually, cross connection paths are already there, unfortunately we could not find one for you.. hope to get there soon!

Do give it a try after a while, and tell us if your experience is any diff. from now! And thanks for checking it out.

[hachilabs]

We have fixed the bug because of which you were not able to see your direct connections on Hachi. Do check it out, and let us know in case it's still not working for you!

[nithinpb]

Also, I could not find a link to delete my account. I think that's important.

[hachilabs]

Yes, that's a valid request, and we'll work on it. For now - if you want, you can revoke access by going to Facebook Privacy settings --> Apps & Websites ---> there you can revoke access.

[pmjoyce]

Although I'm not on Facebook so can't properly check it out I do like the concept and it's great you're getting a MVP out there.

I can think of a couple of directions for this to go in. Whether you stick to the lead warming angle (b2b) or move towards some sort of umbrella search across all a user's social network (consumer play) is probably a decision to be taken once you have some feedback on how people are using it.

[hachilabs]

Thanks Paul for checking out the app! Whether to go B2B route or go for consumer play, is something even we're debating internally, and you're right - it's a decision that'll be based more on how people use the product.

[notahacker]

I can't see it being useful enough from a consumer point of view to warrant me paying for it (or using it often enough to be worth showing advertising to). I can see businesses seeing it as something worth paying for if it works.

Unfortunately I can't get it to recognise even direct FB connections at the moment.

[hachilabs]

We'll drop you a mail to understand more on why you couldn't find direct facebook connections.

And yes from monetization perspective - so far it does look like that business folks will be more willing to pay for such a tool. Thanks for checking it out and sharing feedback!

[hachilabs]

We have fixed the bug because of which you were not able to see your direct Fb connections on Hachi. Do check it out, and let us know in case it's still not working for you!

[evolution]

Just signed up and searched for a person in my facebook network even though I'm not directly friends with her. Hachi could not find way to connect with her though we have some mutual friends in common. Also how about connecting twitter account to get more connections?

[hachilabs]

Hey thanks for checking it out. A bit surprised that this (Facebook) error happened.. thanks for reporting, we're looking into it. And yeah we are working on adding more social networks - Twitter is definitely up on the list!

[hachilabs]

We have fixed the bug because of which you were not able to see your Facebook friend-of-friend on Hachi. Do check it out, and let us know in case it's still not working for you!

[Pumba]

Nice Concept. But don't get me wrong, you guys have to find a good designer for your site. Especially, the black background panics me (gives me an impression that I just logged in to some hacker site) plus the marquee on the home page takes me back to 90's era.

[hachilabs]

Point noted. :) We've already started working on it.

[thevivekpandey]

Clickable links:

http://www.gohachi.com/

http://www.gohachi.com/users/register (Invite code: HN100)

[phlux]

This sounds like caller ID on steroids.

[hachilabs]

hey - not sure if I understood you clearly, pls explain. thanks!

[phlux]

Imagine hooking this up as a caller ID of sorts, you get an email, a text or a call from someone - and your engine goes and crawls all your social networks and contacts and pulls up whatever relational info it can find on the person.

Presenting you with their online social dossier as it were.

You could make it more powerful for business users and charge them for more indepth spidering of a person.

Sure, prolly a few iterations before you could do it to such a degree - but if youre not doing this, then who will be in your place? There has to be something like this out there already.

[hachilabs]

Hey thanks for clarifying!

>>Imagine hooking this up as a caller ID of sorts, you get an email, a text or a call from someone - and your engine goes and crawls all your social networks and contacts and pulls up whatever relational info it can find on the person.>>

Rapportive (and few others) provides you with this info.- when you get an email from someone. If I understand correctly, then you're suggesting Rapportive++ ..??