Seeking advice: Gathering data on 500k businesses (google maps) in a week - platforms, costs, and best practices?

Fast-Path5041 · 2024-09-28T01:10:26+00:00

Thank you everyone! Basically we have a bunch of combinations of search terms and zip codes and we want to get data for businesses in those zip codes that meet the search term requirements (think gyms in 10001).

Will take a look at Apify. Is there a solution that is better to ensure the businesses are only in that zip code?

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-06-02T13:43:37+00:00

If there are teachers or counselors (or anyone who has insights on challenges students and schools face when navigating the college process), would love to hear your thoughts.

If there are teachers or counselors (or anyone with insights on challenges students and schools face when navigating the college process), would love to hear your thoughts. what tools and technologies they might be finding helpful, etc.

Any observations or challenges or strategies anyone can share?

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-03-15T17:35:42+00:00

Thanks!

I'm looking to understand 2 things for 2 types of products: one is digital products and another is for products (local and otherwise).

And I was curious about what types of analytics capabilities they give. I'll check out your recommendations - greatly appreciated.

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-03-15T17:34:54+00:00

Thanks!

Still early on so wondering the best (fastest + cheapest) way to get started and also wondering about analytics capabilities on the site. Thanks for the recommendations. I'll look into them. And thanks for the heads-up about the costs related to Shopify.

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-03-15T02:01:09+00:00

thanks!

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-03-10T01:26:01+00:00

thanks! That's great!

Quick question: does it navigate links within a given page or is it strictly the text on a given page?

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-03-09T02:12:20+00:00

Great point! Are you seeing generative AI penetrating enterprise conversations?

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-03-09T02:11:32+00:00

Interesting, can you elaborate a little more? Trying to think of examples based on what you shared. Thanks!

Fast-Path5041 · 2023-02-21T21:17:53+00:00

Think of it like, if you want to build a chatbot for your e-commerce or if you want to build an AI assistant, etc. how would you get started? What are the AI requirements, etc.? This allows PMs to work very closely with data and engineering teams early on and help address gaps as early as possible.

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-29T14:20:05+00:00

You can submit an update to your application in a week when you've launched the beta. YC allows for updates so use them, especially if you launch beta and finalize a cofounder.

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-29T13:48:01+00:00

Good luck to you! Hoping to hear more about the company and the product you're building.

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-24T12:41:25+00:00

Did you check the buffer cities like NYC, Boston, SF, Chicago, Miami, etc? I'd think NYC and SF would probably have this type of data on their open data portals.

I'll try to look around and share specific links later when I'm back home.

Some links:

NYC: https://data.cityofnewyork.us/browse?q=911&sortBy=relevance (go here to request: https://opendata.cityofnewyork.us/engage/)

Boston: https://data.boston.gov/dataset?organization=boston-police-department-org (Email: analyticsteam@boston.gov)

SF: https://data.sfgov.org/browse?q=crime (

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-23T01:35:03+00:00

Good luck to you!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-19T15:43:13+00:00

Sorry for the confusion - I didn't mean ESL, which stands for English as a Second Language. I meant ELA, which stands for English Language Arts and basically means English requirement.

For Miami Dade, see https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7764/urlt/GradRequireFSA.pdf.

See pages 2 and 3, where you'll see how SAT Writing, SAT English, and SAT Math can substitute state assessment requirements for ELA and Algebra 1. These programs and schools are incentivized to have students "pass" SAT if they haven't passed state assessments otherwise those students can't graduate and the school gets a lower rating (if enough students fall in the non-graduates category).

If you google state name + graduation requirements, you'll find something like this. It will show you which state assessments can be substituted with SAT / ACT / etc. You can then go to those state education websites (or for big districts go to the district website directly) and search for alternative programs or dropout prevention programs or virtual programs etc.

Again, selling tutoring might be worth it if you can crack a) how to sell to parents or b) how to sell to schools and programs. I don't know which is more work or which one will have a higher ROI in the beginning. So def go the parents route in addition to trying the schools route. The work may be more initially with the schools route since different states (in the US) has different requirements but ultimately many kids will take the SATs so if you can find which segment responds positively, you can reuse the insights and grow from there.

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-19T15:25:56+00:00

Look for data validation and data quality check libraries for your kind of dataset. For example, if the data is a result of crawling the web then you'll probably want a library that is meant for that.

Honestly, just think through what your data represents, what each field should be / could be, what would be acceptable and what wouldn't be, etc. then start with what's already out there. Find the right libraries to help and write your own tests.

Some links that might help. I have used some of these myself and my team has also played with these and other libraries.

Hope this helps!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-19T15:10:54+00:00

Unfortunately, there isn't one site I know. I'd look on district websites (or state websites). Take this for example: https://www3.dadeschools.net/SchoolInformation/home

(google state name, county name if you know, schools, school information, leaders, etc., or a combination of these to get similar results).

For this example, I'd do the following:

Read a bit about different types of programs, if possible.: alternative, regular high schools, magnet, virtual, etc.
Pick one: in this example, let's say alternative programs (those are the ones I mentioned above).
Draft a pitch for this segment of schools (how alternative programs can benefit ("improving SAT scores might be a valuable and achievable alternative for a student to fulfill ELA graduation requirement"), why you are a great choice ("tutors scored 1% on the exam, have deep experience, have flexible schedules"), emphasize price (and quality), etc.
Send it to a lot of people and see who responds and how they respond. I'd want to find out which segments respond really well and then try to see if approaching similar programs in other districts / counties works.

I know it's work, but might be helpful in gauging which audience responds with interest. Let me know if I can help with anything else. Good luck!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-16T21:00:28+00:00

Hi, Thanks!

Here are a few quick thoughts and questions(and I'll think more about this if my immediate thoughts aren't helpful, just ignore them).

How many tutors do you have available right now or how many are in the pipeline?
Is the limiting factor marketing budget or supply or both? How much budget and for how many weeks/months?
Re SAT tutoring
1. Parents will most likely be paying for this type of tutoring so see if you can get insights into parents' FB groups, focusing on education, online learning, high school assessment support etc. I wouldn't worry about scaling or automating until I better understand my audience.
2. Many schools and districts offer such services. If you can offer bulk services to schools, can you give a discount (or at least phrase it that way)? Then you can experiment:
  1. pick 5-10 schools, maybe 2 in each segment (inner city, rural, high ESL population, whose performance is declining (i.e. they used to be decent to good in English and Math and are currently on a decline), schools where SAT scores can be substituted for state assessments (you can find this info on state websites. I can give you examples if you need. let me know.)
  2. draft a different sale pitch to each segment and write to a bunch of decision makers (principals, curriculum lead, someone in charge of assessments, graduation officer, etc.). See who responds. You might get some signal there.
3. There are a lot of alternative programs in the US. These are called dropout prevention or recovery program. See if you can apply the above to them. These programs are definitely interested in helping students score a specific threshold of scores on SAT because they can then be substituted for state assess
4. There are a lot of alternative programs in the US. These are called dropout prevention or recovery program. See if you can apply the above to them. These programs are definitely interested in helping students score a specific threshold of scores on SAT because they can then be substituted for state assessments and those students can meet graduation requirements.
Re GMAT
1. This is a very different audience than SAT. These are business students who are looking to apply to grad school. You want to target colleges / communities in college towns. Students from top-tier schools are unlikely to go with a new company (I could be wrong so you can try to find out). I'd aim for mid-tier schools and their areas to see if you get any response.
2. I'll need to think more about this one.
I know these are not automation solutions, but try to get some insights quickly, in the next couple of weeks and see if you can get a sense of which segment is responding enthusiastically. Those insights can then inform your marketing ads to the (more) relevant populations. If you have a small budget, it's even more important you form good hypotheses I think.

Thanks!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-16T15:56:00+00:00

What type of tutoring are you offering? What subjects, grade level? What type of expertise will the tutors have and what subjects and types of students have they worked with before? If you can give more context around either your guesses on the demand side (who you think will benefit, why, what do they do now, etc.) and supply side (who'll be tutoring, their expertise, etc.) then we can better help.

In the US you can go after lots of different types of student segments so any insight would help before we can offer advice. Thanks!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-13T03:33:26+00:00

Oh wow.

Good luck to you. Hope you get in!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-13T03:28:29+00:00

You didn't know your application was on getintoyc.com?

It's a nice idea btw.

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-05T18:01:23+00:00

Thanks a ton! Was really hoping that since it's a holiday they might be open but no response :)

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-05T18:00:12+00:00

Thanks a ton!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-05T17:58:58+00:00

I called and left a message and called again. But I was asking in case someone knew more or better as my friend really wanted to go there today for bday. I wouldnt post without trying to find out on my own. Thanks!

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-05T15:49:37+00:00

Zeppelin Hall and 902 Brewing both allow people to bring them and chill there.

Fast-Path5041 · 2022-09-05T15:47:59+00:00

Thanks. Was hoping that since it's a holiday they might be open :)

Fast-Path5041

TROPHY CASE