@Wazua @KenyanLyrics, sorry for crushing your dreams but your social media application will not make you rich. Many programmers and developers find making a Web app very satisfying, and there is nothing wrong with that - as long as you are doing it for fun, it's OK.

Your idea-first approach:
1. Have a “cool” idea
2. Implement it in X number of hours
3. Try to justify its need by finding users who may use it

That is the wrong approach.
If making money is the objective, Market-first approach:
1. Find an industry (ideally, an old fashioned one) where people are making money
2. Find the single differentiator which will put your app apart in the already established industry (read or research what pain points are still not addressed by top 3 solutions)
3. Make a Web app, market it, refine it based on feedback and monetize the app
4. Slowly incorporate all standard features expected out of a solution in that industry so you can shoot to be a market leader



Okay okay, so says Paras Chopra http://blogs.reuters.com/small-...kely-wont-make-you-rich/
and he definitely is not Mark Zuckerberg or Evan Williams. I'm only inviting debate, very very compelling argurment. What's your take?

Compelling argument. However, there is that space for coming up with a new innovative product. It's a more risky approach, though, as many times it may fail. Facebook was one such product. Though not so new, it was done in a fresh and insightful way. And now the $ are coming in.

True @redondo, educating the market is very expensive. Imagine also if you educated the market, but they still decided against your website/ application! Risky.

there is no difference between web and mortar. Mukiha has been right on this issue since I saw him posting on this forum.

I usually refer to it as 'clicks and mortar' business

@mukiha, very true. Actually most of the successful contracting companies out there began by getting contracts then using the same to access capital. One always has to ensure that he has a client base that will be able to sustain any business idea he has and capital will follow.