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These responses are common on here, and in my opinion, unhelpful. A conventional Vc funded businesses is supposed to either get big or fail. That is the model.

by woah 7y ago

These responses are common on here, and in my opinion, unhelpful. A conventional Vc funded businesses is supposed to either get big or fail. That is the model. Everyone working on them and everyone investing in them gets that. Advocating for someone to do something completely different by starting a low-growth business is somewhat irrelevant to the conversation.

surfsvammel 7y ago
I’m not so sure. I sometimes meet startups, at meet-ups or conferences. Many that I have spoken to seem to just run their startup according to some kind of start-up template. There is an expected trajectory, just as you said. Maybe that doesn’t apply as much here at HN as many have read stories like this plenty before, like you said. But, I bet many don’t even consider that there are completely different goals one can pursue with a startup.
rvense 7y ago
Maybe some kid who wants to go it alone will read it and realize that being your own boss does not require buying into the whole "start-up" package.
bsaul 7y ago
Don't understand why you got downvoted, because what you're saying is indeed the conventional wisdom : you can't get big without getting big fast , with a lot of VC infused money, and work insane hours. I think the next (current ?) generation is going to question that : values like "durability" and "long term vision" starts to get fashionable again. The old industries were based on "family businesses" where you would take extreme care before letting someone new have shares of the company, where growing was measured in terms of generations, based on reputation and quality of work, and sustainability. And that gave giants, which lasted for generations. I think it's getting clearer and clearer that there are alternatives to "pump and IPO" models, and that they may even be preferable for everybody (founders, employees and customers) except VCs who needs quick cash rotation. Note: maybe what you meant is just "we're talking about VC funded companies, not other types". Still, i think VC will need to take new aspirations into account when looking for next gen companies to fund.
- techslave 7y ago
  > Still, i think VC will need to take new aspirations into account when looking for next gen companies to fund. they don’t. it’s not their model. get big or fail is inherent to their model and is what their fund investors want. for long term steady value or other (valid) models the VC customers (LPs) can just invest in index funds. The entire point of the VC is risk/reward. remove the reward and why would you take on the risk?
Lucadg 7y ago
I actually think it's important to share that there are other ways. We tend to follow patterns and being reminded that there is value in alternatives is precious. I'm sure many founders think the vc funded startup is the only way to create a cool company as their parents thought that a steady office job was the only way to live a comfortable life. As it turns out the juicy parts of life are where it's less crowded.
mbesto 7y ago
> Everyone working on them and everyone investing in them gets that. I agree with everything you've said but this. I don't think everyone really fully groks this and hence why comments like the above are helpful. Young impressionable people don't know there are alternatives when all they hear is "startup, startup, startup" being echo'd out of SV. PS - it's also frowned upon on HN to say what comments are beneficial/relevant. Just use the arrows next time.

by woah 7y ago

surfsvammel 7y ago

I’m not so sure. I sometimes meet startups, at meet-ups or conferences. Many that I have spoken to seem to just run their startup according to some kind of start-up template. There is an expected trajectory, just as you said. Maybe that doesn’t apply as much here at HN as many have read stories like this plenty before, like you said. But, I bet many don’t even consider that there are completely different goals one can pursue with a startup.

rvense 7y ago

Maybe some kid who wants to go it alone will read it and realize that being your own boss does not require buying into the whole "start-up" package.

bsaul 7y ago

Don't understand why you got downvoted, because what you're saying is indeed the conventional wisdom : you can't get big without getting big fast , with a lot of VC infused money, and work insane hours. I think the next (current ?) generation is going to question that : values like "durability" and "long term vision" starts to get fashionable again. The old industries were based on "family businesses" where you would take extreme care before letting someone new have shares of the company, where growing was measured in terms of generations, based on reputation and quality of work, and sustainability. And that gave giants, which lasted for generations. I think it's getting clearer and clearer that there are alternatives to "pump and IPO" models, and that they may even be preferable for everybody (founders, employees and customers) except VCs who needs quick cash rotation. Note: maybe what you meant is just "we're talking about VC funded companies, not other types". Still, i think VC will need to take new aspirations into account when looking for next gen companies to fund.

techslave 7y ago
> Still, i think VC will need to take new aspirations into account when looking for next gen companies to fund. they don’t. it’s not their model. get big or fail is inherent to their model and is what their fund investors want. for long term steady value or other (valid) models the VC customers (LPs) can just invest in index funds. The entire point of the VC is risk/reward. remove the reward and why would you take on the risk?

Lucadg 7y ago

I actually think it's important to share that there are other ways. We tend to follow patterns and being reminded that there is value in alternatives is precious. I'm sure many founders think the vc funded startup is the only way to create a cool company as their parents thought that a steady office job was the only way to live a comfortable life. As it turns out the juicy parts of life are where it's less crowded.

mbesto 7y ago

> Everyone working on them and everyone investing in them gets that. I agree with everything you've said but this. I don't think everyone really fully groks this and hence why comments like the above are helpful. Young impressionable people don't know there are alternatives when all they hear is "startup, startup, startup" being echo'd out of SV. PS - it's also frowned upon on HN to say what comments are beneficial/relevant. Just use the arrows next time.