3 ms·
Is it just me or has there been a proliferation of "strategic startups" lately? They never intend to turn a profit but rather seek to become a pawn in the large
by svantana 10y ago
Is it just me or has there been a proliferation of "strategic startups" lately? They never intend to turn a profit but rather seek to become a pawn in the larger game between e.g. Google and Apple. Of course, in a winner-take-all market, it should be the easiest way to "win". Go Big or Go Home is now Go Big or Get Acquired...
- ovi256 10y agoIMO, it's just good positioning (as in market positioning) for getting hired through an alternative process, with a higher (presumably) payoff. You prove you can build the prototype, de-risking the hirer's decision to pay you more than a normal hire. This reasoning presumes that the 'normal' hiring process and market resembles a lemon market. This is my IMHO. Bad hires drag down all participant's perceived value and compensation.
- refurb 10y agoThis is pretty common in the biotech start-up world as well. Do an analysis of what the big biotechs (Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, BMS) are investing in and go out and start a company in that space. A few years later, you either get a big investment from them, an in-licensing deal or outright acquisition. I think it's a pretty smart way to do things. Of course, what's "hot" can change pretty fast, so you have to be lucky as well.
- twblalock 10y agoThis isn't new. People have been doing this for a long time.