2 ms·

Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm actually in the latter camp myself (although I'm not < 30 anymore). I'm honestly not bugged personally about any lack of press.

Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm actually in the latter camp myself (although I'm not < 30 anymore). I'm honestly not bugged personally about any lack of press. Having a successful company with no press is much better than the opposite (like you said). I think my main beef is with the press itself (not the companies). I enjoy reading Inc mag ... but I was suspect as soon as that issue dropped in my mailbox. I knew Pownce wasn't "hot" and that it probably wouldn't last. Aren't they worried about looking stupid when crap like this happens? I wish a Inc (or someone) would send 1 good journalist and 1 good photographer together on a road trip to profile a dozen tech startups that (a) aren't in NYC or the Valley, (b) have substantial revenue or growth and (c) haven't set out to be the "Next [INSERT UNPROFITABLE SOCIAL NETWORK/UTILITY]" ... it would actually be an educational and interesting read.

petercooper 18y ago
There are a few problems. The first is that journalists are, on the whole, reasonably ignorant in terms of depth. Not in a malicious way, but keeping your finger on the pulse of an entire industry while having to meet deadlines is ridiculously tough - especially if you don't get the freedom to schmooze, put on events, travel, and what not (as, say, Michael Arrington does). They focus on breadth rather than depth in most cases. Further, tech journalists are not known for taking risks to get stories (compare to photojournalists). They could travel to Duluth and profile a start-up there, one in Huntsville, one in San Luis Obispo, and wherever, but the risk is too high of not coming up with a solid story. In the Valley they can rely on their contacts (often well established entrepreneurs who are part of the digerati) to give them more of the same. Outside of the valley? Unless someone in the digerati knows you or you're making some really big waves, the risk of coming out to profile you is pretty high.
- callmeed 18y ago
  Hey, we started in San Luis Obispo :)
  - petercooper 18y ago
    Woo, Cal Poly! SLO is my favorite city - sadly, it's a bit too expensive..
nostrademons 18y ago
Wasn't that what happened when Web2.0 was first starting? IIRC, the poster children for early Web2.0 successes were: * Flickr (Vancouver) * LiveJournal (Seattle) * Del.icio.us (NYC) * 37signals (Chicago) * Friendster (Silicon Valley) * MySpace (Beverly Hills) * FaceBook (initially Boston) There's a pretty good geographic mix right there, even among unprofitable ad-supported startups.

petercooper 18y ago

There are a few problems. The first is that journalists are, on the whole, reasonably ignorant in terms of depth. Not in a malicious way, but keeping your finger on the pulse of an entire industry while having to meet deadlines is ridiculously tough - especially if you don't get the freedom to schmooze, put on events, travel, and what not (as, say, Michael Arrington does). They focus on breadth rather than depth in most cases. Further, tech journalists are not known for taking risks to get stories (compare to photojournalists). They could travel to Duluth and profile a start-up there, one in Huntsville, one in San Luis Obispo, and wherever, but the risk is too high of not coming up with a solid story. In the Valley they can rely on their contacts (often well established entrepreneurs who are part of the digerati) to give them more of the same. Outside of the valley? Unless someone in the digerati knows you or you're making some really big waves, the risk of coming out to profile you is pretty high.

callmeed 18y ago
Hey, we started in San Luis Obispo :)
- petercooper 18y ago
  Woo, Cal Poly! SLO is my favorite city - sadly, it's a bit too expensive..

nostrademons 18y ago

Wasn't that what happened when Web2.0 was first starting? IIRC, the poster children for early Web2.0 successes were: * Flickr (Vancouver) * LiveJournal (Seattle) * Del.icio.us (NYC) * 37signals (Chicago) * Friendster (Silicon Valley) * MySpace (Beverly Hills) * FaceBook (initially Boston) There's a pretty good geographic mix right there, even among unprofitable ad-supported startups.