We're a startup in the social media scheduling world. The APIs now exist to post to Instagram but they're locked off to Partners. To become a Partner you need to be spending $500,000/month on ads (on behalf of your end customers), or know people in the right circles (you have to know someone from Instagram who will vouch for your product).
This has created a situation where the likes of Buffer and Hootsuite have an instant and unfair advantage in the industry, making it impossible for new entrants in the market to compete.
A second example of this is the Facebook API. After the Cambridge Analytica scandal they have paused all app reviews and revoked permission for any apps to post to Facebook Groups.... That is unless you're a Facebook Partner and you'll get the opportunity to have your app reviewed in no time at all.
Once again we've been hobbled as a start-up and have had to remove functionality from the platform.
As a start-up founder, can any HN folk give some guidance on how we can compete in this monopolistic environment? Not having these two integrations is a major deal breaker for the majority of potential customers.
