Requests for Startups Refreshed
I've constantly racked my brain on the Underserved Communities and Social Services: my dad is a Vietnam vet and my mom (while we were growing up) fit that single mother middle-class type...how does technology help them?Part of the problem is they aren't tech savvy the way the HN community is - so what works for our community doesn't exactly work for theirs, or that they even use technology to the extent that we do (i.e. does technology even solve this problem?).The other problem is revenue/profitability...this population is inherently cash-strapped, so trying to create a technology solution that likely lies in the Tech-meets-Consumer Discretionary industry, well, who among these people can (and will) afford such services?It frustrates me to no end...because I want to help, but I can't seem to find a viable solution whenever I build something out.It's further a problem because it doesn't follow the general YC/Paul Graham rules for creating solutions - solving your own problems. Most techies aren't also veterans or single mothers, so while it was a problem I experienced second hand growing up, it's not something I live with today, other than my innate desire to help others. It's very hard to solve a problem you can't experience first hand.Does anyone have any ideas on how to solve these kinds of problems? Am I approaching it wrong?