Having second thoughts about my idea after hearing quite a few NOs
Hello IndieHackers,
This is my first post and I would like to hear your thoughts on a dilemma that I am facing for sometime now.
Here it goes, I am almost halfway through implementing a web app with an interim name (LastWords) which does exactly what it says. It's an app where a person can store secrets or other information in the form of text/image/audio/video which will be sent to the contacts that you choose when you leave this world for good. This information could be anything like a goodbye message, your IPhone passcode, financial secrets about assets you hold, crypto holdings that you would like to pass on to your family ;), a threat to your life, etc (end of thinking capacity). I hope you guys can help me add a few…
Now I made the very mistake which people here would have wanted me to avoid. Starting execution before validation.
This idea felt great to me at first but when I started talking about it I realized how dark it is. I am literally asking people what they would like to share with their friends or family after they DIE.
So, my question is would you use it? It’s an awkward question to ask face to face, believe me. Should I continue building it? I have heard enough NO’s btw.
I am open to any suggestions, constructive criticism or even ROASTING of my idea. ;)
P.S.: The app will send you “are you alive?” email/sms every 6 months with a healthy retry rate before counting you dead on account of no response from your side and will send your secrets to your nominees.
A few thoughts:
Thank you John for spending a thought on this. I expected people could share casual secrets which could not be exploited, something that would be informal/constantly changing to be included in a legal death will. Your reservations are justified though. I myself wanted to drop this idea, your opinions will help me obtain closure.
How do you know when I die? Maybe you could pivot the idea into passing on my business if I die.
Hi Brown, I did mention in the P.S section of the post how I will detect one's passing. It basically says, an absence of any response to the periodic Are You Alive? messages to that person will consider him dead after a few retries.
Passing on something complicated as a business can be better handled with a legal will.
I am sorry but don't do this. This might be useful but as a solo developer, it may take years to find the audience and build a considerable revenue of this.
Yep I understand now. Coming up with an idea that is not already implemented made me turn a blind eye to some basic validation checks.
A few questions : Who is your target market? Are you getting feedback from members of this market? At the outset, this would be a challenging product to build since you have to be trusted with providing a critical service after the person is dead.
I was bullish enough to think the entire human race was a market and that convincing 0.00001% would work wonders for me. Just kidding :) Yes building a secure, fail safe and trustable product would have been very challenging.
I wouldn't exactly use it under that moniker. Also, I would not use it in that way. I think a text message or even an email notifying someone of your demise would be met with some disdain from those left behind. However, I will tell you I am working on something like this with my company as well... we have the development underway with an aspect of this model. I think the "no's" are coming from consumer crowds.
Yes... The "no's" are coming from consumer crowds and they were my target audience as businesses prefer legal paperwork to handle such things. Good for you that you found implementation similar to this in the business market. All the best to you!!!