Most batches of startups tend to ride a common set of waves. But there are also opportunities for startups that chart their own course. As the waves change, these contrarian-minded startups sometimes end up in front of the past waves. Though we can’t predict the timing or nature of the next blitz of waves, we do know they are always coming. And going.

Peer-to-peer work and the component software industry
Christina Cacioppo has a nice post up on what comes next for the software industry. It is focused on start-ups and consumer focused business models but many of the concepts stretch across the industries.

Christina writes very well about two trends – software as a component industry and peer-to-peer type workflows. We’re seeing this across early stage technology companies as Christina describes, and I believe we’ll see both trends in the forms of disruption of traditional product shops, as well as different models for “companies”, e.g. as transient flocks. This is the current set of tidal waves of the software industry, interwoven with Lean Startup principles. Some startups will no doubt ride these powerful waves to incredible success. But some startups will also go against, through or around these waves and it is sometimes more interesting to think about those opportunities.

Startup turtles swimming upstream
Some companies will take the contrarian path. For example, some companies will succeed by minimizing their use of other platforms and components. Near heresy today, which may mean it is more likely to be true. Wait, if I don’t take advantage of these platforms and components, then how do I race the hares to market? You don’t. You lose that sprint but may win the marathon.

Sustainability
I love the Lean startup concepts, and I practiced some of them, but we may be starting to over-emphasize the speed parts. Sustainability for example may include slowing down and minimizing the use of today’s powerful platforms, robust web services and third-party components, as crazy as that may sound against the deafening roar of today’s tidal waves.

Waves and innovation
Certainly I’m not recommending that all start-ups slow down. Some turtles will drown going against the current. Some rabbits will iterate into long-term sustainable businesses with indispensable platforms. But I think this current set of waves is so powerful – so hard to not ride if you are a startup – that it creates a contrary opportunity for some startups that go the other way and focus on sustainability, business model innovation and go to market innovation.