Nonetheless, I think I'll buy this book and read it, just to see if there's any kernel of novel insight there. After all, for an innovator / entrepreneur, this is one of the most crucial issues out there.
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-High-Tech-Ma...
[2]: https://www.amazon.com/Diffusion-Innovations-5th-Everett-Rog...
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-High-Tech-Mai...
I've also heard YAGNI [2] shouted at generalizations. People can spend too much time generalizing problems for broader application that never comes. I don't know the right answer here, as it seems hard to measure how likely it will be that any generalization will be reused later. Perhaps it's ultimately judgment.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-Disruptive-Ma...
http://www.amazon.com/Selling-New-Market-Space-Innovative/dp...
One other book that is considered a classic is "Crossing the chasm"
http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-Disruptive-Ma...
The network effect and the quality of contributors is everything. Start in an entirely new field and you'll end up with the blind leading the blind, and the quality and reputation of the site will plummet. Just take a look at That Other Q&A Site.
For a new field, the site needs enthusiastic and highly competent contributors; otherwise it will fail.
The Art of the Start - Guy Kawasaki http://www.amazon.com/Art-Start-Time-Tested-Battle-Hardened-...
Outside Innovation - Patricia Seybold http://www.amazon.com/Outside-Innovation-Customers-Co-Design...
Unleashing the Killer App - Larry Downes & Chunka Mui http://www.amazon.com/Unleashing-Killer-App-Strategies-Domin...
Wellsprings of Knowledge - Dorothy Leonard Barton http://www.amazon.com/Wellsprings-Knowledge-Building-Sustain...
The Innovators Dilemma - Clayton Christensen http://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Dilemma-Revolutionary-Busin...
Crossing the Chasm - Geoffrey A. Moore http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Geoffrey-Moore/dp/00605...
The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs - William H. Draper http://www.amazon.com/Startup-Game-Partnership-Capitalists-E...
Some of these aren't necessarily about startups, but I think they all have something valuable to offer. YMMV.
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore He discusses the Technology Adoption Lifecycle and hi-tech marketing. http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Geoffrey-Moore/dp/00605...
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen This Harvard business professor discusses what makes a disruptive innovation. http://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Dilemma-Revolutionary-Busin...
Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Levinson He discusses some scrappy techniques for promoting your businesses. Not all are applicable to web or hi-tech companies, but it can still spark some great ideas. http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-4th-Inexpensive-St...
http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-High-Tech-Mai...
If you want to read more about this shifting from a broad to a narrow focus, I highly recommend Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore.
http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-High-Tech-Mai...
http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Geoffrey-Moore/dp/00605...
I've been asking for positive examples for years, and I still see no signs that Bitcoin is poised for more than niche adoption. Sure, if you want to do something modestly illegal, like buying gray market prescription drugs, Bitcoin may fill a niche. But it hasn't caught on for legal transactions, and its traceability makes it bad for seriously illegal activities. And even if you're only doing something modestly illegal, you have to be pretty technical and pretty dedicated to make it work. For most people it's way easier to give cash to their friendly local drug dealer.
So yes, it doesn't have strong fundamentals. The underlying commodity, long integers, is freely available. Despite years of "Bitcoin will be widespread soon" puffery, the use value is very weak compared with alternatives. At least you could plant tulip bulbs.