aberman

Actually never thought about the long term vs. short term benefits.

I think you may be right. The guy that's best to start the business is not necessarily the best person to run it a few years later. I'll let you know in a few years ;)

Sorry, I came in a bit late. Anybody care to summarize the major points?

"doesn't make me want to go see some exorcist movie."

Watching peoples' reactions doesn't really make me want to go either, but tbh, it may have made me want to see the movie if I experienced that. Not sure how many impressions that they got, but it could be significant.

weird. maybe they stopped running it. Basically, you connected your fb profile, and the trailer for the video game was personalized.

Brilliant. Crazy fb connect video game trailers, Old Spice and now this. Online marketing has actually become really entertaining.

I wasn't there, but I can imagine. Brian is a beast.

You are telling programmers to "worry about making money; don't worry about building products that can change the world."

Whatever their motives, angel investors want entrepreneurs to build big, meaningful companies. And the money they provide helps them to that.

"WePay isn't doing that good a job of explaining exactly what it is about."

I agree. We have struggled with this since the beginning.

Thanks for the feedback; we will definitely keep working on our messaging.

LOL - obviously the timing (and title) are a little awkward given the whole "WePay saves Burning Man from the cold, heartless claws of PayPal" press a few hours ago :(

This comment wreaks of jealousy.

what's the matter with you?

I ask that seriously. Obviously their goal is to build a great product, and to get people to use it.

They posted that article on the AdGrok blog because it drove a shit-ton of traffic and it received a ton of inbound links. Why wouldn't they capitalize on that?

As far as the product is concerned, it's fantastic. I've been using it in private beta for a few weeks. I would bet on these guys in a heartbeat.

Startups drive traffic and signups any way that they can, and their company name was hitting mainstream media before they even launched.

Thank God for rule #11, otherwise rule #7 would look laughable in retrospect.

"give-everything-away-and-make-it-up-on-volume strategy stamps an expiration date on your company's ass. In other words, design something to charge for into your product and start taking money within 6 months"

Advice I hear echoed all the time, yet all the big "holy shit, what a huge valuation" consumer internet startups with experienced entrepreneurs at the helm seem to ignore it. Just a thought.

Yes, sorry.

I should have said: people who have never worked for a startup that has succeeded, or for a startup that has failed, but has provided a valuable enough experience to justify working there.

Here we go...

Most of the people I have seen writing (and upvoting) these kinds of comments have never worked for a startup, and they are bitter (for one reason or another). Or they have worked for a startup and it's failed.

Are you really trying to look out for the best interests of all those poor, mis-guided people working for all those cruel and single-minded startups, or are you trying to convince yourself that your own life decision to work "for The Man in [your] day job in a cold corporate environment" was the right one.

I spend A LOT of time with former startup employees. They are happy with their decisions. I say former because many of them have been a part of an exit, and are now working on their own companies...with some cash in their pockets, an impressive rolodex (of investors), and a good reputation because they were part of a winning team.

Most of the employees of early stage and recently funded companies that I know are happy to be where they are. They work late because they are passionate and enthusiastic and they like to win.

Keep putting them (and the startups that employ them) down. You're cause is really noble.

Just started to at WePay, and it has changed my world.

Especially good for big press and turning certain ads (fb and google) on and off.

What do your stock options look like?

If BigCo doubles revenue this year (probably impossible if it really is a big company) how will it affect your life?

If BigCo gets acquired next year will you be popping champaign or worried about your job?

Show your caring?

Really appreciate the compliment, Jonathan. It means a great deal coming from you.

BTW - Hackers and Founders is awesome. At least one person from WePay will be at the SF meetup tomorrow.

Perhaps you were not the proximate cause...

If you have a year or two of living expenses, a mortgage, and a family, it's a much bigger risk than if you have nothing...especially if "nothing" means very few big-ticket expenses.

If you have nothing, you are risking the opportunity cost of having a "real job". As long as you can find a way to support yourself (food and shelter), it's a good time to gamble.

You may be jesting, but I actually think you have a pretty good point.

People think that starting a business looks like this: 1. Come up with an idea 2. Build a product or service 3. Sell the product or service

When, in reality, it often looks like this: 1. See what you can sell (and sell it if you can) 2. Build it

"Saying "I'll do anything" doesn't make the MBA-intern clueless, rather makes him a lot more motivated and open-minded about his career and future path."

When you say "I'll do anything", I hear: "I'll do anything that you want me to do"

That's the problem. I don't want to spend more time figuring out shit for you to do than you spend actually doing it.

I would rather hear you say: "I'd be willing to do anything, but I know that I could really help with ________"

wait, which one is which?

Clever - I could see myself using this.

I'm changing my bank to this one immediately.

ummm.....if these are such great startups, then why not charge the investors for good deal flow?

And Highlightcam

me :)

That should actually be #7, I think - I'll add it if I get the chance. I started off like the person you describe, and I have since moved pretty far in the opposite direction.