Emily Chang - eHub Interviews

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Posted January 30, 2007
eHub Interviews StartForce

Thanks to Chong-Jin Koh and the rest of the team at StartForce for this email interview.

eHub: What is your web application/service about?

StartForce: StartForce is your broadband desktop. “Click and Run” rich application delivered through a familiar Windows-like desktop experience inside your favorite web browser.

eHub: Why did you start this project?

StartForce: The world needs an eBay for Web 2.0 application.

eHub: How much time do you devote to its growth?  Do you have a day job?

StartForce: Yes. Just like Edison would deliver newspaper at day and invent light bulbs at night.

eHub: How large is your team and what are your backgrounds?

StartForce: A team of 15. 11 full time software developers with strong expertise in J2EE, LAMP, and AJAX. 3 full time software architects. 1 business guy wearing multiple hats for sales, operations, funding, bizdev.

eHub: What is your design philosophy?

StartForce: Emulate familiar Windows desktop user experience to minimize learning curve.

eHub: What technologies are you currently using?

StartForce: Linux, Apache, MySQL, J2EE, AJAX

eHub: If your project is live, what are the most requested features from your users/community?

StartForce: Faster speed.

eHub: Does your user base reside in a primary geographic location or is it distributed?

StartForce: Currently only in Japan. Will launch English international site at Startforce.com very soon.

eHub: Where do you see the project heading in the next 6 months?  The next 2 years?

StartForce: Proving sustainable business model by being in meaningful revenue with credible reference-able customers in next 6 months. Becoming the eBay for Web 2.0 application in 2 years.

eHub: What is the greatest challenge to your success?

StartForce: Time to market.

eHub: What is the one thing you need to get to the next phase of the project?

StartForce: Super fast data center.

eHub: Do you have a business model? If so, what is it?

StartForce: OEM model and ASP subscription model.

eHub: How much traffic or usage do you see on an average day?

StartForce: The most among similar players in Japan. When we go international, we expect to be #1.

eHub: What is the one thing you’re most proud of about the project?

StartForce: My team. The courage to start something with nothing. The passion to show the world the future they see. And they work so hard inventing so much with so little.

eHub: How would you describe the shift that’s occurring with the web right now to future generations?

StartForce: Your desktop is a reflection of your lifestyle. Your desktop resides on the Web.

eHub: What site(s) do you visit everyday other than your own?

StartForce: CNET, Google News, Forbes, Business 2.0, SlashDot.

eHub: How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

StartForce: Median 6 hours.

Thanks to Chong-Jin Koh and the rest of the team at StartForce for this email interview.

Visit StartForce
Originally added to eHub on May 26, 06

» More eHub Interviews

eHub Interviews is a series with the creators of Web 2.0 applications and services by Emily Chang, author of eHub, designer, and co-founder and principal of Ideacodes, a strategic web consultancy in San Francisco that she co-founded with Max Kiesler.

Also see eHub Interviews in Japanese at CNET Japan