4 ms·
> The wave is subsiding and they now need to appear to have a viable business (so they can be sold to a bigger fish), which means there has to be a visible mar
by jmcphers 5y ago
> The wave is subsiding and they now need to appear to have a viable business (so they can be sold to a bigger fish), which means there has to be a visible market they can sell into.
Might need a (2019) tag. As of 2020, RStudio is a Public Benefit Corporation and has a corporate structure that is designed for long-term investment in the scientific community, and isn't susceptible to buyout or IPO.
https://blog.rstudio.com/2020/01/29/rstudio-pbc/ https://blog.rstudio.com/2020/01/29/rstudio-pbc/
(disclaimer: I work at RStudio)
- shkkmo 5y agoIt's great that RStudio is a B-corp, but that, by itself, isi a magic bullet. Is there any information you can share on what steps RStudio has taken to reduce susceptibility to buyout and IPO pressure from VC?
- jmcphers 5y agoAbsolutely. The B-corp by itself is indeed not a magic bullet, but the PBC transition (which is separate) does make a big difference. In a typical C corp the corporation is ultimately answerable to shareholders and it is shareholder pressure that causes buyouts and IPOs as shareholders need a return on their investment. A PBC is able to prioritize its mission (in our case, enabling access to scientific tools to everyone, regardless of means) over these demands.