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I think people tend to get caught up in the hype and fluff of the Bay Area startup scene and worry more about vanity metrics, raising money for "big ideas", and
by bherms 14y ago
I think people tend to get caught up in the hype and fluff of the Bay Area startup scene and worry more about vanity metrics, raising money for "big ideas", and all the bullshit that surrounds our industry. I think ultimately those will be the contributing factors in the demise of SV. There's a lot to be said for the "Midwest approach" (fyi, I am from Indiana originally, now working in SF). 37Signals is the embodiment of what this article calls the midwest way. Bootstrap, focus on profitability, be humble. I get tired of listening to everyone out here talk about raising huge amounts of money for web apps that require huge userbases to monetize or about changing the world with their iPhone apps. It's all bs. Too many people out here, as I like to say, are the type of people who love to smell their own farts. I'd like to see more people work on the "Midwest approach".
- dylanhassinger 14y agolol. too much smug I agree, 37signals really are the godfathers of the movement!
- a5seo 14y agoHaving done my time in the Valley, I am now almost allergic to bs-spewing self promotors who are always "killing" whatever "it" is that constitutes their latest pivot. These people are the cockroaches of the Valley, and they especially stick out like a sore thumb when they wash out and move to the midwest.
- bherms 14y agoMidwest startup meetups started to be flooded with business guys with an app idea looking for a tech guy to build it for 5% equity and no cash... I hate to use stupid teenage acronyms, but "smh" is appropriate here.
- a5seo 14y agoAt least their subtly isn't outpaced by their guile. Easy enough to steer clear.
- abalashov 14y agoIt's really kind of laughable that commonsensical, self-evident entrepreneurship, in the form of sustainable, organic development and focus on dependable profitability, is a "movement", as if it were something new, or that 37 Signals has managed to appoint itself the spiritual steward of this "innovation." Fundamentals-based small business is how business has been done since the beginning of commerce. It's been around for thousands of years. It's rather telling about our world that advocating a return to that in the web economy brands one with a distinct ethos and allows one to earn speaking fees going around talking about it as if it were some radical gospel.
- bherms 14y agoI love the Startup School talk DHH did a few years ago where he talks about having a product and charging money for it... Pretty hilarious delivery.