Why is it that corporate presences lag behind their small business counterparts? Is it because they lack innovation? Do they fail to understand what is coming next?
Surely we can’t kid ourselves.. Microsoft and Google have the absolute most intelligent people on the planet working for them. How is it possible then that small people like us have a chance on the Internet?
Nitin wrote an absolutely fantastic piece titled, “Web 2.5: The Social Enterprise.”
In it he likens startups to chess:
Conversely, the exact opposite is true when playing against a much stronger opponent – the best strategy is to try unusual approaches or disruptive moves, in an attempt to get your opponent off-balance; if you can force a blunder, your chances of winning improve significantly.
Startups have an apparent advantage
Why is it that disruptive technology changes the game?
Quite simply, there are no rules. There isn’t corporate BS. There isn’t an execution framework that a developer has to reside in. Sure there are platform issues and database tables, but a competent programmer can execute those with minimal issues.
The difference lies in the barriers, or the cost of entry. The most significant investment is often in planning and design. This includes gathering information about your idea. In other words, forming a vision.
The Top 10 Disruptors of 2006
Daniel at InnovationZen has a post in his archives detailing The Top 10 disruptive technologies of 2006.
In it, there are the likes of YouTube.com and Salesforce.com. Both of which have changed the way we think about technology. But what about them is terribly different?
Nothing.
They simply took a service and put it online. Now, everyone is trying to mimick their success. Microsoft is releasing SaaS software. There are new video sites being introduced everyday. But in the end, there isn’t anything there that is hugely innovative.
The best ideas are yet to come
That being said, I think that some of the best ideas are yet to come. The most significant contributions to our Internet will come out of someone’s basement, where a few people have big ideas.
And for everyone that thinks that a “Website is not a business,” you need to open your eyes.
They don’t need to know much about programming. Nor do they need to know business. They just need to develop an application to suit their needs.
And in doing so, a lot of other people will follow.
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Great information! Thanks for writing this. It is an honor to participate in the discussion.