[jacoblyles]

>"it looks like an innovative and amazing idea..."

What a different perspective you get living in Silicon Valley. I personally know the founders of half a dozen competitors to Munchery in the same geographical area, and there are probably dozens of serious competitors that I don't know about.

I don't envy startups in that space. It is too sexy; it has the "actor/rockstar" curse. There are too many founders jumping in because they love it and it's fun without thinking carefully about how to build an audience and get traction. Many of them have damn impressive teams, too.

On the other hand if there are that many companies coming up with the idea independently, then maybe it is the "right time" for it and a few will be successful. But from an investor's perspective I don't understand how you pick which one to fund.

[rch]

You have to fund the one with the right vision for the web service - which should be flexible enough to compete with the couch-surfer guys, groupon, and whatever else on a whim.

For instance - if you're selling meals for $20+, then also sell wine storage (maybe like vinfolio, but not so overtly pretentious).

There are some pretty clear growth strategies, I think.

(but fix the name)