Most Ridiculous Startup Ideas That Eventually Became Successful

 

Source: Startups Basics

The best startups are typically discovered after they have achieved success. However, if you look at the history of these businesses, you'll realize that some of them got off to a bad start but went on to achieve the greatest success ever.

It is possible to build a "good" startup for a "good" idea, yet "successful" companies sometimes originate from concepts that, when first heard, seem absurd. This fact is a good formula because many businesses would have processed successful ideas a long time ago if they had been so evident. So, here is a list of startups that at first glance didn't appear all that fascinating but went on to become well known.

1. Amazon 

Few businesses have produced as many bold concepts as Amazon, which is still working to create a future where automated drone deliveries and smart speakers run our homes. But the boldest notion could have been the one that got everything going: online book delivery.

Although it makes sense now, purchasing books online was frowned upon in 1994 since there was no way to ensure that you would receive what you had paid for. But the concept made sense; books were in high demand, affordable, and simple to ship. What appeared absurd, was brilliant. Within a short period, Amazon rose to prominence as one of the most widely used websites on the internet and began to diversify its product offerings beyond books.

2. SpaceX

Nobody took SpaceX seriously when it first began operating in 2002. No private company had made any attempts to design or launch space-related technologies; NASA was the only agency to have done so. Then SpaceX appeared. Indeed, the company's future appeared bleak following unsuccessful launches and fresh rounds of funding in the early to mid-2000s.

But in the early 2010s, SpaceX began to gain momentum following several successful flights and significant NASA contracts. Elon Musk's business is currently producing some of the most affordable and useful space-related technology we've ever seen.

3. The Pet Rock

Gary Ross Dahl had the notion to sell rocks to kids in the 1970s, with the justification that the rock was some sort of a pet. The idea of paying for a rock now became much more feasible because of great packaging and astute marketing, and eventually, the concept earned Dahl a fortune.

4. Github

Github may seem complex to non-programmers, but it has developed over time into a remarkably potent tool (and open community). When it first launched, its premise was absurd: Would software developers have to pay a monthly fee to use open-source code to produce more open-source code? Now it's the largest host of source code in the world.

As 24 million devoted GitHub users can attest, the model is effective.

5. PayPal

Nowadays, millions of individuals trust PayPal as much as any bank to manage their financial transactions (if not more so). However, when PayPal first became available in 1998, it was breaking new ground. The creators of PayPal demanded that you provide your bank account information along with other personal details and have faith in them to manage your online financial transactions at a time when the internet was still in its infancy and enjoyed little public confidence.

6. Instagram

Instagram was founded back in 2010, during an era when Facebook had already surpassed as the dominant social networking platform. Instagram started as a Foursquare ripoff, but it quickly gained popularity when it converted to a concept that involved uploading pictures with your friends, family, and followers almost exclusively.

Apart from the filtering feature and the emphasis on mobile devices, Instagram didn't stand out from its rivals, but it was nonetheless able to build up a sizable user base at first. With more than 800 million active users each month, it is now among the most widely used social media networks worldwide.

Did the boldness and creativity of these bold concepts contribute to their success? Or were they propelled to success by steadfast founders who were prepared to make significant sacrifices to see them through?

In any case, these successful firms serve as examples of how, given the correct foundation, even the wildest ideas have a possibility of succeeding. Give your boldest ideas another chance to succeed by drawing inspiration from these ideas and leaders.

Anshika Bansal