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Article calls it both a 'donation' and an 'investment' - which is it?
by wilfra 14y ago
Article calls it both a 'donation' and an 'investment' - which is it?
- paddy_m 14y agoWe are working to build open source software for them that meets their needs. I think they are making an investment in the sense that any customer is invested in the outcome of a project. It wasn't a VC investment.
- gojomo 14y agoI'd guess 'grant' would be a better term than either for what's happening here. AFAIK, DARPA doesn't take equity, but does make grants based on intended deliverables. ('Investment' was used in the article in the general sense of "an investment in our children's future" or "investing in shared infrastructure", rather than expecting a specific liquid return like cash dividends or an appreciated exit event.)
- ryguytilidie 14y agoSince DARPA can't take equity in companies, it doesn't really matter. Its a donation in that the department will get nothing in return. Its an investment in that it will ideally make America a better place. Think of everything DARPA does as both a donation and an investment.