4 ms·

Never say never. I worked for MailChimp who never touched investor money, never gave out any stock to any employees (not even key engineering staff), each found

by elif 3y ago

Never say never. I worked for MailChimp who never touched investor money, never gave out any stock to any employees (not even key engineering staff), each founder retained 50%, and they turned down multiple $1b+ offers until finally accepting $12b from Intuit.

ta1243 3y ago
That "plucky founder becoming billionaire" thing reminds me a little of Whatsapp, which sold for $19b (although I believe did have Venture Capital) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/952359-thoughts-about-my-free-iphone-app-whatsapp.html https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/952359-tho... Especially this post from Jan Koum: i'll tell you all a funny story which has to do with flyertalk: i am actually flying to Barcelona for MWC right now using the M&M miles award ticket (i am posting this from LH455 flight)... i obviously got these tickets many months ago - i prefer to fly using miles when i can to save company money. as you know, award ticket inventory is limited and last minute changes are nearly impossible... and this is where it gets cute: we announced the deal with Facebook on wednesday after the market closed. during the process, we realized there was a chance we might not be able to get the deal wrapped up and signed on wednesday and it could delay. when the risk of the delay became real, i said: "if we don't get it done on wednesday, it probably wont get done. i have tickets on thursday to fly out to Barcelona which i bought with miles and they are not easily refundable or even possible to change. this has to be done by wednesday or else!!!" ...and so one of the biggest deals in tech history had to be scheduled around my M&M award ticket
- ComputerGuru 3y ago
  Hilarious because they probably had much more than the cost of a first class business ticket in the not-even-under-lock-and-key petty cash drawer in the next room. But good for him!
santoshalper 3y ago
It definitely happens, it will generally mature more slowly. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I find the pace of bootstrapped companies healthier and more sane.

by elif 3y ago

ta1243 3y ago

That "plucky founder becoming billionaire" thing reminds me a little of Whatsapp, which sold for $19b (although I believe did have Venture Capital) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/952359-thoughts-about-my-free-iphone-app-whatsapp.html https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/952359-tho... Especially this post from Jan Koum: i'll tell you all a funny story which has to do with flyertalk: i am actually flying to Barcelona for MWC right now using the M&M miles award ticket (i am posting this from LH455 flight)... i obviously got these tickets many months ago - i prefer to fly using miles when i can to save company money. as you know, award ticket inventory is limited and last minute changes are nearly impossible... and this is where it gets cute: we announced the deal with Facebook on wednesday after the market closed. during the process, we realized there was a chance we might not be able to get the deal wrapped up and signed on wednesday and it could delay. when the risk of the delay became real, i said: "if we don't get it done on wednesday, it probably wont get done. i have tickets on thursday to fly out to Barcelona which i bought with miles and they are not easily refundable or even possible to change. this has to be done by wednesday or else!!!" ...and so one of the biggest deals in tech history had to be scheduled around my M&M award ticket

ComputerGuru 3y ago
Hilarious because they probably had much more than the cost of a first class business ticket in the not-even-under-lock-and-key petty cash drawer in the next room. But good for him!

santoshalper 3y ago

It definitely happens, it will generally mature more slowly. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I find the pace of bootstrapped companies healthier and more sane.