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Groupon’s Andrew Mason To Charlie Rose: “We Are The ‘N Sync Of Websites”

36 points by danielamitay 16y ago

hugh3 16y ago
Thus dividing the audience into two categories: "too old to remember 'N Sync" and "too young to remember 'N Sync".
RBr 16y ago
"I think that we’ll continue to see more companies like [Groupon] who will put us to shame a couple years from now with their rate of growth." I firmly believe that this is correct. A lot of product pitches from current or previous Google employees start with the words, "there are 6.8 billion people in the world and this product solves a problem the majority of them have". I think that in developing new products, we get so wrapped up in current trends and crazy valuations that we loose sight of just how quickly the majority of people continue to jump on the Internet bandwaggon. A good number of folks will complete their first purchases online this holiday season, this realization alone makes me confident that the web is far from over and that there is room for a lot of bands beside 'N Sync and The Beatles. While I may be tired of hearing about Groupon and their clones, I know that there are more companies just around the corner that will blow 6 Billion dollar valuations out of the water.
pchristensen 16y ago
While trying to weasel info about the Google offer: CHARLIE ROSE: So therefore, why did you choose to eliminate a Google-like proposition and incline yourself toward other propositions? ANDREW MASON: It has to do with whether or not I would beat my wife.
- jsm386 16y ago
  To be fair this makes sense in context...sort of. He is dodging an answer and he does so more articulately a few moments later. Also - reading through the transcript this is possibly the most serious he's ever been in an interview. He actually talked about facts, answered questions, etc. instead of running on about how he likes to build doll houses.
  - pchristensen 16y ago
    I meant that Charlie Rose was trying to weasel information out of him, not that Andrew was weaseling away from the question.
- michaelneale 16y ago
  Interesting - I have heard other people use the "have you stopped beating your wife?" question as their false-dichotomy example, but didn't realise it was in wide enough use that Andrew could use it with many people realising what he was meaning. But very clever...
Helianthus16 16y ago
He brought in a capuchin monkey to the office on his birthday. (I work in the same building)
davi 16y ago
"So we’ve put all these small kind of niche businesses on the map, whether it’s a — whether it’s a helicopter club that’s offering flying lessons, and we sell 2,500 coupons" They're talking about Philip Greenspun's [1] encounter with Groupon, about which he says: "I think what this shows is that we were much worse at marketing than even we could have believed." [2] [1] http://philip.greenspun.com/panda/ http://philip.greenspun.com/panda/ [2] http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2010/03/19/groupon-marketing-results/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2010/03/19/groupon-market...
zandorg 16y ago
No asterisk allowed in URLs...
ameyamk 16y ago
This guys sells Groupon so well, he must be a great sales guy.
staunch 16y ago
I love this guy. One of my favorite startup CEOs at this point. He has a vision for splitting the world with Google and just might actually pull it off now that he's dodged the acquisition. I'm just really worried he's going to get the axe. I hope his board isn't stupid.
- yankeeracer73 16y ago
  He has a very close relationship with the largest investor, he won't be getting the axe anytime soon. They also have a "President" who in reality is the one running the company.

36 points by danielamitay 16y ago

hugh3 16y ago

Thus dividing the audience into two categories: "too old to remember 'N Sync" and "too young to remember 'N Sync".

RBr 16y ago

"I think that we’ll continue to see more companies like [Groupon] who will put us to shame a couple years from now with their rate of growth." I firmly believe that this is correct. A lot of product pitches from current or previous Google employees start with the words, "there are 6.8 billion people in the world and this product solves a problem the majority of them have". I think that in developing new products, we get so wrapped up in current trends and crazy valuations that we loose sight of just how quickly the majority of people continue to jump on the Internet bandwaggon. A good number of folks will complete their first purchases online this holiday season, this realization alone makes me confident that the web is far from over and that there is room for a lot of bands beside 'N Sync and The Beatles. While I may be tired of hearing about Groupon and their clones, I know that there are more companies just around the corner that will blow 6 Billion dollar valuations out of the water.

pchristensen 16y ago

While trying to weasel info about the Google offer: CHARLIE ROSE: So therefore, why did you choose to eliminate a Google-like proposition and incline yourself toward other propositions? ANDREW MASON: It has to do with whether or not I would beat my wife.

jsm386 16y ago
To be fair this makes sense in context...sort of. He is dodging an answer and he does so more articulately a few moments later. Also - reading through the transcript this is possibly the most serious he's ever been in an interview. He actually talked about facts, answered questions, etc. instead of running on about how he likes to build doll houses.
- pchristensen 16y ago
  I meant that Charlie Rose was trying to weasel information out of him, not that Andrew was weaseling away from the question.
michaelneale 16y ago
Interesting - I have heard other people use the "have you stopped beating your wife?" question as their false-dichotomy example, but didn't realise it was in wide enough use that Andrew could use it with many people realising what he was meaning. But very clever...

Helianthus16 16y ago

He brought in a capuchin monkey to the office on his birthday. (I work in the same building)

davi 16y ago

"So we’ve put all these small kind of niche businesses on the map, whether it’s a — whether it’s a helicopter club that’s offering flying lessons, and we sell 2,500 coupons" They're talking about Philip Greenspun's [1] encounter with Groupon, about which he says: "I think what this shows is that we were much worse at marketing than even we could have believed." [2] [1] http://philip.greenspun.com/panda/ http://philip.greenspun.com/panda/ [2] http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2010/03/19/groupon-marketing-results/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2010/03/19/groupon-market...

zandorg 16y ago

No asterisk allowed in URLs...

ameyamk 16y ago

This guys sells Groupon so well, he must be a great sales guy.

staunch 16y ago

I love this guy. One of my favorite startup CEOs at this point. He has a vision for splitting the world with Google and just might actually pull it off now that he's dodged the acquisition. I'm just really worried he's going to get the axe. I hope his board isn't stupid.

yankeeracer73 16y ago
He has a very close relationship with the largest investor, he won't be getting the axe anytime soon. They also have a "President" who in reality is the one running the company.