Latest news with #Dropbox
Entrepreneur
4 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The One Real Problem You Must Solve to Make Your Startup Succeed
Some of the most successful startups didn't start with a business plan. They started with a problem. More specifically — a personal pain point. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Dropbox was born because Drew Houston was sick of emailing himself files. ConvertKit came from a blogger who was tired of clunky email automations. Notion grew out of the chaos of managing scattered notes and documents. These weren't random startup ideas pulled from a pitch deck. They were solutions to personal problems. And that's what made them powerful. When you build what you need, you shortcut months of guesswork. You skip the focus groups, the theoretical personas and the assumptions. You already understand the problem deeply because you live it. Related: Got a Startup Idea? Here's What It Really Takes to Make It Work Start with friction, not vision The first step to building a meaningful product isn't to identify a trendy niche or chase a hot market. It's to pay attention to the moments in your day that feel harder than they should. The tasks you procrastinate. The tools you silently curse. That friction is your opportunity. Forget disruption. Forget scale. The best early-stage products come from irritation, not inspiration. What's broken in your workflow? What are you duct-taping together every week just to get by? Start there. That's where urgency and empathy already live. Talk to people like you Once you spot a problem, skip the massive surveys. Talk to a handful of people who share your situation. If you're a freelancer, speak with freelancers. If you're a working parent with a side hustle, speak with others juggling the same chaos. The more overlap between you and your early users, the faster you'll know if this is a real pain or just a minor inconvenience. What you're looking for is emotional signal — frustration, not politeness. You want someone to say, "I'd pay for that today." Build the painkiller, not the platform You don't need to launch a polished product. In fact, polish is usually a waste early on. Your first version can be a spreadsheet, a Notion template, a Zapier automation — whatever works. The goal is to prove the fix, not win design awards. Don't aim for elegance. Aim for utility. If it works, users won't care that it's scrappy. Test willingness to pay as soon as possible This is where most people hesitate. But if your product solves a real problem, people will pay — even if it's ugly. Even if it's early. Real payment is the difference between "interesting idea" and "actual business." And it doesn't have to be much. Charge a small onboarding fee or ask for a credit card to reserve early access. You're not trying to trick anyone. You're testing commitment. Too many founders wait until everything is perfect before asking for money. By then, they've burned time, budget and momentum. Pricing is feedback. So get it early. Narrate the build, don't just build While you're creating your product, share the journey. Post what you're building, what you're stuck on and what you're learning. Whether it's Twitter, LinkedIn or a Substack, showing your process builds trust. You're not selling — you're storytelling. And that attracts the right people: others who feel the same pain you're solving. Make your first users successful Don't rush to scale. If you're still explaining what your product does, you're not ready to grow. Focus instead on helping your early users get results. Support them. Follow up. Ask who else they know who needs this. Word-of-mouth isn't a viral fluke — it's the byproduct of usefulness. Related: The One Simple Task That Will Help Your Startup Succeed Build from conviction, not theory When you build for yourself, you don't need to fake insight. You don't have to invent personas. You already understand the stakes. That shows up in the product, the copy and the customer experience. And most importantly, it builds trust. You're not a startup guessing at what might matter—you're a person solving something that already does. Drew Houston didn't plan on building a billion-dollar company. He just wanted a faster way to move his files. That pain became Dropbox — and millions of others felt it too. You don't need permission. You don't need a grand strategy. You need to notice the problem that keeps nagging at you — and build the thing you wish already existed. That's where real businesses begin. Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Face of taxi driver caught with child sex abuse video as he's jailed
Keith Reilly (57), a taxi driver and married father of two from Upper Grattan Park, Kindlestown Lower, Greystones, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty A Wicklow man who has been jailed for 10 months for possession of a video containing child sex abuse material appeared to have carried out the offence in the hope he would be 'rumbled', a court has heard. Keith Reilly (57), a taxi driver and married father of two from Upper Grattan Park, Kindlestown Lower, Greystones, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to possession of the offending material contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard that gardai were alerted to the existence of a video in a Dropbox account in Reilly's name by the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Keith Reilly News in 90 Seconds - July 24th Detective Garda Dara McEvoy gave evidence of seizing a mobile phone during a search of the defendant's home on July 2, 2021. Det Garda McEvoy said no child pornographic imagery was detected on the device but gardaí were 'extremely concerned' about the content and tone of a conversation between Reilly and another individual about young children in an exchange on WhatsApp. He told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that files in a Dropbox account belonging to the defendant could not be opened but two videos containing 'Category 1' child sex abuse material were subsequently found in it with the assistance of authorities in the US. Evidence was heard that one video contained a recording of children engaged in sexual activity while the other depicted a naked boy masturbating. Det Garda McEvoy agreed with Mr Kelly that the WhatsApp conversation in itself constituted an offence under the legislation but the court heard that no prosecution had been entered in relation to it. The court heard that Reilly had no other previous convictions apart from some road traffic offences from 20 years ago. Cross-examined by defence counsel, Barry White SC, Det Garda McEvoy said he was aware that the accused had complained to gardaí in the past about being sexually abused as a child. Det Garda McEvoy said he understood that a file on the complaint had been forwarded to the DPP who had directed that there should be no prosecution. Mr White observed that the defendant felt a proper Garda investigation had never occurred into the matter. The barrister said Reilly's offence seemed to be 'an endeavour to bring the matter into the open.' Judge John Martin acknowledged that the offence related to a small amount of material when some similar cases involved hundreds of videos. He also accepted that Reilly had cooperated with gardaí and entered an early guilty plea, while there was no evidence he had engaged in the offending behaviour over any prolonged period. However, Judge Martin said he was somewhat concerned that Reilly was the father of two teenage girls given the nature of the offence who had also shown no empathy or remorse. The judge said he disagreed with the view of both the defendant and his wife, that it was a victimless crime. 'Young people were exploited for the sexual pleasure of others,' the judge remarked. 'Innocent children were exploited by someone making money out of them.' Judge Martin said Reilly's claim that he was not motivated by any sexual desire but was calculated to bring himself 'into the spotlight' was 'a difficult pill to swallow.' The judge said it seemed like the defendant hoped he would be 'rumbled' which he found difficult to rationalise. He observed that Reilly had a difficult childhood which no child should have to endure 'no more than the children in the video you were watching.' The judge said he had been assessed at a low risk of offending although a psychologist believed such an assessment was likely to underestimate the risk due to the defendant's 'limited disclosure.' Sentencing Reilly to 14 months in prison, Judge Martin suspended the final four months on condition that he places himself under the supervision of the Probation Service and complies with any directions given to him for a period of 12 months after his release from prison. Another charge relating to possession of the other video was taken into consideration.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taxi driver jailed over possession of video containing child sex abuse material
A Wicklow man who has been jailed for 10 months for possession of a video containing child sex abuse material appeared to have carried out the offence in the hope he would be "rumbled", a court has heard. Keith Reilly (57), a taxi driver and married father of two from Upper Grattan Park, Kindlestown Lower, Greystones, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to possession of the offending material contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard that gardai were alerted to the existence of a video in a Dropbox account in Reilly's name by the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Detective Garda Dara McEvoy gave evidence of seizing a mobile phone during a search of the defendant's home on July 2, 2021. Det Garda McEvoy said no child pornographic imagery was detected on the device but gardaí were "extremely concerned" about the content and tone of a conversation between Reilly and another individual about young children in an exchange on WhatsApp. He told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that files in a Dropbox account belonging to the defendant could not be opened but two videos containing 'Category 1' child sex abuse material were subsequently found in it with the assistance of authorities in the US. Evidence was heard that one video contained a recording of children engaged in sexual activity while the other depicted a naked boy masturbating. Det Garda McEvoy agreed with Mr Kelly that the WhatsApp conversation in itself constituted an offence under the legislation but the court heard that no prosecution had been entered in relation to it. The court heard that Reilly had no other previous convictions apart from some road traffic offences from 20 years ago. Cross-examined by defence counsel, Barry White SC, Det Garda McEvoy said he was aware that the accused had complained to gardaí in the past about being sexually abused as a child. Det Garda McEvoy said he understood that a file on the complaint had been forwarded to the DPP who had directed that there should be no prosecution. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Mr White observed that the defendant felt a proper Garda investigation had never occurred into the matter. The barrister said Reilly's offence seemed to be "an endeavour to bring the matter into the open." Judge John Martin acknowledged that the offence related to a small amount of material when some similar cases involved hundreds of videos. He also accepted that Reilly had cooperated with gardaí and entered an early guilty plea, while there was no evidence he had engaged in the offending behaviour over any prolonged period. However, Judge Martin said he was somewhat concerned that Reilly was the father of two teenage girls given the nature of the offence who had also shown no empathy or remorse. The judge said he disagreed with the view of both the defendant and his wife, that it was a victimless crime. "Young people were exploited for the sexual pleasure of others," the judge remarked. "Innocent children were exploited by someone making money out of them." Judge Martin said Reilly's claim that he was not motivated by any sexual desire but was calculated to bring himself "into the spotlight" was "a difficult pill to swallow." The judge said it seemed like the defendant hoped he would be "rumbled" which he found difficult to rationalise. He observed that Reilly had a difficult childhood which no child should have to endure "no more than the children in the video you were watching." The judge said he had been assessed at a low risk of offending although a psychologist believed such an assessment was likely to underestimate the risk due to the defendant's "limited disclosure." Sentencing Reilly to 14 months in prison, Judge Martin suspended the final four months on condition that he places himself under the supervision of the Probation Service and complies with any directions given to him for a period of 12 months after his release from prison. Another charge relating to possession of the other video was taken into consideration. Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Files.com Acquires ExpanDrive, Launches Free Version to Expand Multi-Cloud Access
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- the leading platform for secure and automated file transfer, today announced its acquisition of ExpanDrive, a desktop application for accessing cloud and remote storage as local drives. As part of the acquisition, ExpanDrive is now free for personal use under a new freemium pricing model. Bringing Remote Storage to the Desktop ExpanDrive enables users to mount cloud platforms and remote servers – including SFTP, Amazon S3, Google Drive, and Dropbox – directly into their native file explorers on macOS, Windows, and Linux, without syncing or separate transfers. 'ExpanDrive offers a beautifully simple way to access remote storage right from your desktop,' said Kevin Bombino, CEO of 'We're thrilled to make it free for personal use, helping more people experience frictionless file access.' Freemium Model Now Live ExpanDrive is now: Free for individuals and small teams (under 10 users annually) Paid for larger teams and enterprises, unlocking features like the Web Console, Server Edition, and premium support Strengthening the Ecosystem ExpanDrive's technology and user experience will help shape future innovations across the platform – reinforcing its mission to unify secure file access, automation, and management at any scale. About ExpanDrive Founded in 2004, ExpanDrive allows users to mount cloud and remote storage as local drives across operating systems, simplifying access to services like SFTP, S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, and more. About is the secure file platform for automation, compliance, and scale, trusted by over 4,000 organizations. It enables teams to manage, transfer, and integrate files across systems with enterprise-grade security, direct cloud integrations, and powerful automation.
Time Out
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Teo Della Torre
Will the comestible wonders of Rye Lane never cease? Peckham's perma-packed main drag currently offers everything from indulgent Malaysian cookery (Janda Diner), to rooftop picantes (Forza Wine), one of the cheapest pints of non-'Spoons Guinness in London (Nag's Head), and impeccable Nigerian barbecue (Suuyar). The exact point where Saigon canteen culture meets the contents of Charli xcx's Dropbox Follow the smoke drifting across the road from Suyaar and you'll find the latest addition to SE15's substantial food trail, Lai Rai. A new-school Vietnamese with an adamantly 'no pho' menu, Lai Rai has local roots (it's run by the same family as nearby Bánh Bánh) but is a snackier, share-ier proposition than its big bowl-proffering sibling. Lai Rai's discreet shopfront is immediately rendered indiscreet thanks to a red-and-white striped awning nabbed from a passing funfair. Inside, Lai Rai continues with its endearing brand of intensity. Lit by red neon and with a clinical stainless steel counter, the rest of the small space is a jumble of high and low tables (there's also an airier, less full-on upstairs level); suggesting the exact point where Saigon canteen culture meets the contents of Charli xcx's Dropbox. We match the chaotic energy and start with a mango-muddled picante complete with strands of potent red chilli, and so begins a fast and furious assault of flavour. A bowl of slow-braised pork belly pieces, sweet and sticky nugs of crispy, crunchy, and fatty flesh, could be kids' cinema sweets, were they not pig. Lighter, but by no means less addictive, is the papaya jellyfish salad with pellets of juicy pineapple and smooshed tomatoes, all slugged together with peanuts, a windowbox of fresh Vietnamese herbs and yet more chillis. It glows the colour of a particularly lovely sunset and toiters adeptly across the tightrope of sweet/savoury. Another hefty 'small plate' is piled with fleshy beef tartare, cut with lumps of cucumber and simply begging to be scooped up with shiso leaves. On top are crushed crackers and another brace of peanuts, making this textural symphony perhaps more meat salad than pure tartare, but we're not complaining. Big plates aren't much different in size from their forebears, though crispy chicken leg, fried twice for extra crunch, is a beast of a thing, bobbing about on green herb dressing. We like it, but we like the mussels in coconut and lemongrass broth more, and are smug to have ordered the bahn mi (basically bits of baguette) instead of a side of rice, and set about soaking bread in the fragrant liquid until it almost disintegrates. Pudding is more simple, with fish sauce and vanilla caramel icecream a pescetarian take on salted caramel, and kumquat cucumber sorbet more like a frozen mint mojito than anything of its advertised ingredients. While Peckham might already have a million places to eat, Lai Rai has immediately marked itself out as one to visit very, very soon. The vibe A sweetly chaotic little spot for Peckham's fashion crowd.
