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Three people start a credit website because they want free access to their information. 11 years later they sell it to a company who actively tries to squash fr
by brm 7y ago
Three people start a credit website because they want free access to their information. 11 years later they sell it to a company who actively tries to squash free access. Is there a German word for companies that grow and then exit this way?
- marvindanig 7y agoschadengoose
- tehlike 7y agoThe story of how companies start is just for inspiration It doesnt sound as sexy when you say: we want to make money, and credit agencies suck. We can suck less.
- chx 7y agoThere's an English blog for it... https://ourincrediblejourney.tumblr.com/ https://ourincrediblejourney.tumblr.com/
- scarface74 7y agoThere’s an English phrase for it “a company that takes VC funding”. But honestly, there are only a few tech companies that I see were really started with the idea of being a “lifestyle business” without the eventual goal of being acquired. Yes going public is another option but relatively few tech startups ever go public.
- mobjack 7y agoFree access as a loss leader to push targeted financial products for profit.
- sjc33 7y agoIt's not a loss leader. Yes, they pay the bureaus for access, but you're giving them rich data about you (I'd argue credit data is even richer than what FB has on you) to use to target financial products to you.
- Psyladine 7y agoKapitalrendite.
- joncrane 7y agoNo, but there's an American one: "You either die a hero, or live to become the villain."
- adtac 7y agoIsn't that from Christopher Nolan? I guess that makes it a British saying haha
- big_chungus 7y agoBatman is apparently heavily inspired by the philosophy of Nietzche. The quote is probably a more polished version of this one from Beyond Good and Evil: "He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." So maybe somewhat German after all. Source: https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/10572/is-this-quote-originally-from-the-dark-knight https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/10572/is-this-quo...
- libria 7y ago* "Human"? Almost everyone is ambitious and idealistic when young. But people change, 11 years is a long time. Mortgages, college savings and retirement pull those dreams to conservative ground. Depending on your obligations, turning down 2.3B USD could be irresponsible. Your phrasing implies this is unexpected, but I find this almost basic to humanity, though sobering. * or the German translation, if you wish --- ninja edit: I regret this comment as soon as I submitted it :( but will let it stand. I come to HN to find exactly this idealism that runs counter to the human nature of money-above-all. No, it should not be normal to "sell-out" and the participants I find on this site are the ones I hope will counter that tendency. Continue being disappointed in those who settle!
- sjc33 7y agoNothing is "free" - you give Credit Karma perpetual access to your credit report and in exchange it gives them rich data to target loan products to you for which they make big referral fees from.
- TLightful 7y agoSelloutstraße
- danmg 7y agoYes. It's "Klassenfeind".
- cityzen 7y agoYes, Silicon Valley Startup