I don’t think the EA community is uniquely suited to answer your question. Whether this is a great startup idea or not is difficult for me to figure out and I think speaking to people in the startup and venture-capital community will get you better answers.
I think your counterfactual will likely be much higher if you do direct work, by starting a new EA charity or an effective non-profit than it would be by earning to give. Consider spending some time figuring out exactly what direct work would imply. 80K might be willing to provide advice on that as well. With a clearer picture of the counter factual you will be able to better decide if this opportunity beats it.
All things considered, I think your idea sounds pretty exciting. Your blogpost on climate change and having children is phenominal and I’m planning on sending it to friends and family any time the topic is brought up. If every other aspect of the business is executed as well as that blogpost was written I have high hopes!
Sorry for missing this (have turned email notifications on my post on now).
I agree that the EA community is not suited to evaluate the idea. VC’s are, but they seek an ROI so they might like the idea so won’t fund it. Based on the talks we had so far I’m pretty sure this idea would receive seed funding if it could provide ROI.
Over generalizing here, but the EA community or wealthy EA’s can fund it, but not evaluate it. VC’s can evaluate it, but can’t fund it. Is it a thought to see if we can combine the two somehow? EA works with investors that can evaluate profit for non-profit ideas and if they think they have potential EA can fund it?
I have researched counterfactual (spoke to 80K and Charity Entrepeneurship) and I do not believe it’s much higher (or higher at all) for me. The odds of success of this endeavor are low, but the potential profits we can donate to effective charities are huge.
P.S. great that you like the blog post and sharing will help us!
I don’t think the EA community is uniquely suited to answer your question. Whether this is a great startup idea or not is difficult for me to figure out and I think speaking to people in the startup and venture-capital community will get you better answers.
I think your counterfactual will likely be much higher if you do direct work, by starting a new EA charity or an effective non-profit than it would be by earning to give. Consider spending some time figuring out exactly what direct work would imply. 80K might be willing to provide advice on that as well. With a clearer picture of the counter factual you will be able to better decide if this opportunity beats it.
All things considered, I think your idea sounds pretty exciting. Your blogpost on climate change and having children is phenominal and I’m planning on sending it to friends and family any time the topic is brought up. If every other aspect of the business is executed as well as that blogpost was written I have high hopes!
Hi Mathias,
Sorry for missing this (have turned email notifications on my post on now).
I agree that the EA community is not suited to evaluate the idea. VC’s are, but they seek an ROI so they might like the idea so won’t fund it. Based on the talks we had so far I’m pretty sure this idea would receive seed funding if it could provide ROI.
Over generalizing here, but the EA community or wealthy EA’s can fund it, but not evaluate it. VC’s can evaluate it, but can’t fund it. Is it a thought to see if we can combine the two somehow? EA works with investors that can evaluate profit for non-profit ideas and if they think they have potential EA can fund it?
I have researched counterfactual (spoke to 80K and Charity Entrepeneurship) and I do not believe it’s much higher (or higher at all) for me. The odds of success of this endeavor are low, but the potential profits we can donate to effective charities are huge.
P.S. great that you like the blog post and sharing will help us!