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> As for the acquisition number… that’s why you’ve read this far, right?! Yes. > We settled on an amount equivalent to how much I’d earn as a US-based enginee

> As for the acquisition number… that’s why you’ve read this far, right?! Yes. > We settled on an amount equivalent to how much I’d earn as a US-based engineer working 6 months, but then multiplied by X for the traction/success factor already achieved. And I also still have a stake in the project going forward. Working where in the US? Software engineers can make wildly different amounts of money depending on where in the US they work. Even within SFBA and NYC, a subset of companies pay significantly more than others as well. So why not just say the actual acquisition number?

gowld 7y ago
> Working where in the US? Doesn't matter, because it's multiplied by X plus equity. > So why not just say the actual acquisition number? Because he didn't want to say the number, but he wanted to say that it was high enough to justify his effort.
- throwawaymath 7y ago
  So it's inconsequential that we don't know one of the variables, because the one it's multiplied by is likewise unknown? It's materially different to have an X multiple of an NYC salary versus an X multiple of an average US salary, for all values of X.
  - reificator 7y ago
    > It's materially different to have an X multiple of an NYC salary versus an X multiple of an average US salary, for all values of X. Let X = 0
netsharc 7y ago
Let's say SF.. I'll say half a year's wage im SF is 100 - 125K. What's X? 4 to 10? So I'm guessing he got $500K to a million.
- throwawaymath 7y ago
  I'm pretty skeptical the numbers are anywhere in that neighborhood. But if they are, that's a stunning success.
- Akababa 7y ago
  While we're guessing, I'll throw my hat in the ring at 250k. Given that it failed to monetize, I'd be surprised if it's significantly higher. I know of a project that did have decent monetization and was impressive technically that only went for mid 6 figures. However the owner wanted to sell quickly so that might have depressed the price a little bit.
  - Beltiras 7y ago
    They worked out a deal in a little less time than it takes me to be disappointed with a movie choice. It was more that the seller wanted the hire part of the acquihire. Looks like it was a good deal for both.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- jonas21 7y ago
  > What's X? 4 to 10? And this is exactly why he didn't come out and say a number. X could be anything. Someone else in the comments was speculating 10 to 14. But it could just as easily be like 1.2 or something.
  - throwaway_tech 7y ago
    >Someone else in the comments was speculating 10 to 14 Probably my comment, but I wasn't speculating... my understanding of a normal tech acquisition formula, but I specifically acknowledge this one was likely different because it was < 6 months old and no prior funding/investments.
- wolco 7y ago
  This is how myths are built. Less than 100,000 for 3000 emails.
a_band 7y ago
> So why not just say the actual acquisition number? Usually buyers don't want this information going public. Likely it was part of the deal terms. My guess is that what Josh said is as much as he's allowed to disclose per terms of the deal.

gowld 7y ago

> Working where in the US? Doesn't matter, because it's multiplied by X plus equity. > So why not just say the actual acquisition number? Because he didn't want to say the number, but he wanted to say that it was high enough to justify his effort.

throwawaymath 7y ago
So it's inconsequential that we don't know one of the variables, because the one it's multiplied by is likewise unknown? It's materially different to have an X multiple of an NYC salary versus an X multiple of an average US salary, for all values of X.
- reificator 7y ago
  > It's materially different to have an X multiple of an NYC salary versus an X multiple of an average US salary, for all values of X. Let X = 0

netsharc 7y ago

Let's say SF.. I'll say half a year's wage im SF is 100 - 125K. What's X? 4 to 10? So I'm guessing he got $500K to a million.

throwawaymath 7y ago
I'm pretty skeptical the numbers are anywhere in that neighborhood. But if they are, that's a stunning success.
Akababa 7y ago
While we're guessing, I'll throw my hat in the ring at 250k. Given that it failed to monetize, I'd be surprised if it's significantly higher. I know of a project that did have decent monetization and was impressive technically that only went for mid 6 figures. However the owner wanted to sell quickly so that might have depressed the price a little bit.
- Beltiras 7y ago
  They worked out a deal in a little less time than it takes me to be disappointed with a movie choice. It was more that the seller wanted the hire part of the acquihire. Looks like it was a good deal for both.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
jonas21 7y ago
> What's X? 4 to 10? And this is exactly why he didn't come out and say a number. X could be anything. Someone else in the comments was speculating 10 to 14. But it could just as easily be like 1.2 or something.
- throwaway_tech 7y ago
  >Someone else in the comments was speculating 10 to 14 Probably my comment, but I wasn't speculating... my understanding of a normal tech acquisition formula, but I specifically acknowledge this one was likely different because it was < 6 months old and no prior funding/investments.
wolco 7y ago
This is how myths are built. Less than 100,000 for 3000 emails.

a_band 7y ago

> So why not just say the actual acquisition number? Usually buyers don't want this information going public. Likely it was part of the deal terms. My guess is that what Josh said is as much as he's allowed to disclose per terms of the deal.