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> “I was Pinterest’s first investor.” That’s a sentence I bet you wish you could say. I don't think I wish that. By what metric is Pinterest successful? Are
by daeken 15y ago
> “I was Pinterest’s first investor.” That’s a sentence I bet you wish you could say.
I don't think I wish that. By what metric is Pinterest successful? Are they profitable? I don't get it otherwise.
Edit: From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest#Business https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest#Business they aren't profitable, and don't seem to have even a remote path towards becoming profitable as it stands. What here is a success?
- billforsternz 15y agoSo presumably you're also pleased you weren't the first investor in Google, Amazon, Facebook or Twitter either. After all becoming hugely popular before they became profitable was a clear indication they'd never be profitable. No wait..
- daeken 15y agoIf I invested in, say, Twitter and you asked me right after they exploded "how do you feel about this investment?", I'd tell you plainly: I doubt they'll ever be profitable, but I'll make my money back in future rounds. And that's what happened, except that they eventually, maybe became profitable (if you look at the numbers the right way). Pinterest may end up being a brilliant investment that makes everyone a ton of money, but I find it highly doubtful, and right now they're hoisting the "Mission Accomplished" banner before they've even gotten into the hard part. Sorry, but the metric for success in business isn't getting people to use your product, it's turning that utility into money. They haven't shown they can do that.
- rhizome 15y agoSurvivor Bias.