prpon

You could have said that about the dotcom bubble and be correct at that time. But the gold rush analogy fits very well for that scenario with the benefit of hindsight.

Any scenario including the current startup rush could be made to fit into either one of the options presented.

The reality is: a) currently we are not in an economic slump wrt startup funding b) there will be companies which will make it out of the gold rush looking like visionaries (ala Levis Jeans). c) there will be companies that have attracted significant capital which will go bust.

That is market economics with nothing unusual. The determining factor would be the % of the companies funded which will survive and thrive. I would bet towards a high percentage of busts than winners. And that doesn't make me a genius, i am just stating the obvious.

Comment · 15 years ago

Peldi has been a long time HN user(balsamiq). Most at HN (including me) have nothing but great things to say about him and his company.

Comment · 15 years ago

Cause is usually defined as willful failure or refusal to perform duties that continues after notice and an opportunity to cure, misappropriation or misuse of company trade secrets, commission of a felony or other action involving moral turpitude, etc. and "good reason" is typically defined as material reduction in compensation or duties, relocation to a remote area, etc.

When a company decides to terminate an early engineer because the 5% they agreed at the start is deemed too high for an engineer, usually the reason given is 'non-performance'. Even though the engineer is performing his engineering duties.

Does a company need to prove that the engineer failed to perform and document it? or is it usually the company's word against the engineer's? What stands up in the court of law as 'failure to perform duties'?

Comment · 15 years ago

More often, startups fire employees under the disguise of performance. I am not sure what constitutes non-performance but it has been used countless times as an excuse for getting back the unvested stock options.

Comment · 15 years ago

You hit the nail on the head. In a bad economy/tech market like 2001, the recruiters were rude, unreachable and acted like Gods. After 9/11 2001, a recruiter sent me resume of few other candidates vying for the same job and asked me to write a page describing how I am better than those candidates.

Now, the tables have turned, we developers consider recruiters as dirt bags. I have no doubt that the tide will turn again. We just don't know when.

Comment · 15 years ago

I've read the chapter in the book lean startup and again here. I fail to grasp the Minimum viability in that chapter.

Drew built a product with considerable reverse engineering before he got any feedback, tried explaining to the vcs and investors without much luck. It all worked when he created a video.

Where in the mvp in that? May be I am too thick to understand but for me this is a case of retrofitting the story to match your theory.

Dropbox had a great product that people loved with a better video. No, they did not use feedback loop to pivot and all that mvp stuff.

Comment · 15 years ago

I can only guess but you definitely are not in your 30's yet. I held the same exact sentiments in my 20's. Then I got to my 30s and I realized I haven't done all that I wanted to do. I can slowly see time slipping away and 50 is not too far.

I am afraid 50 isn't enough, time wastes too fast.

PS: I once made this snarky comment at my office water cooler If someone guaranteed I will drop dead at 50 without any health issues, I would take it any day over living with pills and dieting...and then a man in his 50s with a pace maker walked by to fill water. I felt incredibly stupid to generalize life for every one else.

Comment · 15 years ago

You sir, are an inspiration.

Comment · 15 years ago

I've never been impressed by any of the startups that are released in the last few years (YC or other wise). Including my own products. I find them run of the mill, meh kind.

The last product that I thought was cool, was Dropbox and that was a few years ago.

I was doing this judgment thing while I am trying to promote my own products. And I realize how hard it is, how difficult it is to find anyone to give a shit.

I now applaud anyone who gets a semblance of recognition or notoriety. Gimmicks or otherwise. I know how hard it is to pull those off. May be some are lucky and are born to attract the world towards them. But most are not.

There must have been an incredible amount of sacrifice, self doubt and disappointment that I do not know about.

I now celebrate every one's victories, no matter how small they are. I know how hard they are to come by.

Comment · 15 years ago

I ain't no SEO expert but patio11 who is an expert mentioned it as the reason for picking 'appointmentreminder.org' for his project.

Comment · 15 years ago

That article is a great example on a startup providing a compelling story for coverage by media. I don't doubt that they used the 400$ given by YC for Grouper but the 400$ probably was not the limiting factor.

Comment · 15 years ago

I have read 2 entries on your blog. I don't know the details of how bad things went but I can tell you this, Boy, can you write well. Keep writing regularly and good luck.