Too often we hear about startups that follow the same trend and aim to “improve” services currently offered by other applications. Geolocation, microblogging, and mobile seem to be on the “trending topics” list but many of these venture-backed startups seem to be missing the point. Sustained competitive advantage is what made a corporation prosper prior to the dot-com boom in the 90′s and is fundamentally one of the most coveted aspects of business today. While some argue differentiation is helpful to the success of company I would argue it is vital. Who is right? The truth is we just won’t know until time has passed.

This past week, there has been a flurry of posts about a video chat service named Chatroulette. While video based communications are not new, this application is different in that it randomly selects someone to chat with you. Innovation? No. A breath of fresh air? Yes!  During the course of the past 2 months, I’ve been an early adopter of project management, microblogging, and photo sharing startups that just haven’t cut the mustard. So far, Chatroulette is different. Almost immediately after visiting Chatroulette.com, I was connected with a random person. How cool is that? Whether you are tired of “skyping” with the same person over and over again (don’t worry, I won’t tell!) or someone new to the startup scene just hoping to get in touch with someone to build your dream, then Chatroulette is for you!