[onion2k]

Being different is easy: you can always be cheaper. Selling your product as a 'cut-down, cheaper alternative to BrandX' is an age old tactic that really works if your marketing is right. It's not the most glamourous business model ever but it definitely works.

Just because I'm curious, why approach investors after the product is built in 4 months? If you can afford to eat for that long, work twice as hard to get the product done in 2 months, and then spend 2 months doing selling. You won't starve to death and you'll retain full control.

If that isn't an option, you should be setting up investor meetings right now.

[beryllium]

There are other ways to be different. Be friendlier (or edgier). Be more mobile. Be faster (see: Pinboard versus other bookmarking services). Be exclusive. Be more expensive.

...

The last one is a hard sell, obviously, but said sale is much more valuable.