Ask HN: Looking for ideas

[johandt]

Hi,

My question is: Where/how will I come by great ideas (or even okay ideas)?

I have the technical skills to make any idea happen, however I feel like every time I start thinking of ideas, I hit blank (I call this programmers block).

I read that I need to meet with people who have different backgrounds or in completely different work spaces, as they see things very different than we(developers) see.

I would love to meet up with total strangers, with good intents of course, I just don't know where to find said people.

[munrocape]

This truly is the thousand/million/billion(?) dollar question. If you figure it out, be sure to write a follow up post.

Look around your local area for meetups for a language you enjoy, interact and participate with the Open Source community if that is not possible, and paradoxically the harder you try to think of the Next Big Thing the harder time your brain will have. Start off first by building something you think is cool and not necessarily a great idea.

[johandt]

I am not looking for the next best thing, just something fun and exciting, that can bring in an extra revenue stream.

[munrocape]

Then research any startup incubators. There are ones specifically in Toronto, for example, that server to pair teams with their missing link whether that is design, programming a backend, or building a MVP, or brainstorming ideas. Placing yourself in situations like this will not guarantee success but will increase the associated probabilities.

[amac]

Move to a city with a concentration of people in the Industry you want to work in i.e Silicon Valley for Technology, New York for Finance , Paris for Fashion etc. Whilst it doesn't guarantee success, it will increase your odds. Remember whatever idea you come up with doesn't really matter, what matters is execution.

[johandt]

Moving seems a bit impractical just for an idea. But I do hear where you come from, when you say surrounding myself with people of an industry I have an interest in.

[alouanchi]

Hi, maybe here is your idea. Build something to connect people to share their thought and to help each other to come up or to make partnership to start something interesting.

[bdcravens]

Find an area in your city where there's a bunch of businesses. Pop your head in. Ask questions.

Look up patio11's story of how he created Appointment Reminder. Pretty much what he did.