Torn between the Kindle and the Nook? Or whether WordPress is a better blogging platform than Drupal? ATDC member GetComparisons aims to take the pain out of your decision-making process by providing a one-stop-shop for product comparisons.
Launched in late April, the free service allows consumers to sign up and search the site for existing reviews or request or create a comparison of their own. Comparisons show how many times the product has been viewed and the number of positive and negative ratings it has received, along with a detailed explanation of the pros and cons. It’s much like Amazon’s review section, but with the added functionality of feedback, blogs, forums and ratings.
“People research product comparisons all the time, but they often have to sift through various sites to find what they’re looking for,” said GetComparisons founder Akshay Arabolu. “This provides one platform that allows users to easily find – and discuss – meaningful comparisons.”
A former investment banker specializing in the software sector, Arabolu developed the idea for GetComparisons last year while researching different software and applications for his own potential entrepreneurial venture. Frustrated by the inability to quickly find side-by-side product comparisons, he came up with his own solution – and the startup was born. It took months of research, professional outreach and work with various web developers and designers before the site was ready to go public earlier this year.
Since the spring launch, some 1,200 people have signed up to review more than 500 products. Though mostly focused on tablets, smartphones and productivity tools, comparisons range in topic from religion to the perks of living in various cities. Now focused on the development of a stronger brand and identity, the three-person startup plans to utilize ATDC’s resources and networking opportunities as they move into their next phase of growth. They also hope to eventually move to sponsored content.
“From a product standpoint, it’s universally liked,” said Arabolu. “However, it’s been challenging because we built the product without picking a niche and we’ve since learned that the direction in which you point your product is very important. Because people are able to compare anything from religion to web servers, that lends itself to different audiences and has made it more difficult for us to grow within those communities. So going forward, we’ll be working on solidifying our brand, presence and user base.”