people (investors, partners, etc.) have been asking since day one of Tabblo: where is your lock-in? I used to have a lame answer about network effects and user-generated content that I would give, rattling off comparable efforts like eBay’s and MySpace’s. I don’t do that anymore. And the reason is because I came to the conclusion that looking for this type of lock-in is similar to adopting a revenue model that has a high probability of putting you at odds with your users. Instead, we prefer to focus on execution, and specifically on locking product development to user demands. Better integration with Flickr? Full-res downloads? We’re happy to oblige under the working hypothesis that the talented creative class on the Net responds well to companies that take care of their needs and that– to Doc’s point– cycles spent there create a deeper relationship between company and users– which may be the only kind of lock-in we’ll all be left with at the end of the day. —Antonio Rodriguez
Here is a question for you, dear readers: do any of you still stay up at night dreaming how you’re going to spend your millions after your IPO? That is, do any software people out there still think they’re going to cash out one day?
Of course, people do, and people will, but I’m curious to what degree this readership has that mania.
I’ll tell you that long ago, back in the late 90’s, I certainly thought I’d get some chunk of change for all the startup stuff I worked on — who didn’t? — like online banking. It certainly was a good motivator and made the time much more fun. Of course, what made that time even better was working with friends. In the end there was no cash-out, but the friends, experience, and a preview of how weird things can get were more than worth it.
But, back to the question: how many of you think, “someday, I will work on the software that makes me and the team over-night millionaires?”
I would *like* it to happen, but I'm not *waiting* for it to happen. My first job after college started in 2001, so the tech bubble had already burst… The software/IT market isn't going to make anyone squillionaires again until the people who got seriously burned in the last tech bubble all retire.
I think there will be less and less of the IPO money moving forward. So in that respect I don't see it happening.
However, I think it easier now to start a small business and sustain then it was before. So let's call this the "doing what you want" exit. I think that is possible.
Dare, I say Redmonk is an example of this?
Just to add to the comments, two other people email and IM'ed me saying, more or less, the same thing: I sure shoot for that, but I'm not dreaming of nutty-IPOs.
uh – maybe larry and sergey? brandon nails it really. especially with stephen "quality of life" o'grady on board.