[lukasm]

My prediction - in 4 year:

backpackbang will dodge the bullets and be valued 300mln

Biotech & Nuclear will continue research. One will yield value.

Rest will pivot, acquihire or die.

[necubi]

Backpack isn't "kinda" illegal, gray-area, like AirBnB or Uber. It's straight-up, completely illegal. And this isn't municipality-level policies it's up against, it's customs and border, national law.

I can't see any future where they don't get shut down.

[lukasm]

prices are not the same within EU. There is an opportunity here.

[bduerst]

Doubtful about backpackbang.

All it is going to take is a couple smuggling stings on the travelers, and then they will have the reputation as not being safe.

I mean, who wants to spend their vacation in a foreign prison, waiting for the consulate? Or risk losing their job for smuggling a couple hundred dollars?

[hayksaakian]

Seems like something wealthy people would be interested in.

Maybe that's why it stands out.

[ddw]

Do wealthy people need all the hassle to save a few hundred dollars on a Macbook?

[hayksaakian]

maybe you want a fancy wine or a cuban cigar.

[jacquesm]

Maybe whatever you take along has a bunch of cocaine in it.

I'm a pretty experienced traveller and I do people all kinds of favours but I'm fairly picky about what I take across borders for others. As in: I get to inspect the item inside and out beforehand.

[davidPB]

If you believe in the backpack idea, here is a whole list http://blog.piggybee.com/2014/08/delivery-by-travelers.html

[untog]

Even if backpackbang dodges the bullets, I still don't see the market being that big for it. It's a total niche service.

[simoncarter]

I'm in Eastern Europe right now, and the percentage of people I know who do this, either via a friend, friend of a friend, or a client, is high.

Obvious, though not insurmountable, problems aside, I disagree it's niche.