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I love the usual weaselly worded "We apologize if our changes caused you distress" automated response to her second email. That kind of corporate lingo is what

I love the usual weaselly worded "We apologize if our changes caused you distress" automated response to her second email. That kind of corporate lingo is what I expect from soulless corporations. [EDIT] To make it clear. She offered lots of suggestions on what other services they could use and instead of a personal "Thanks for that, we will investigate" they gave her the brush-off with an obviously automated email. Pretty shoddy customer relations.

hkmurakami 13y ago
Wasn't Airbnb the company where the founders took a special dividend using funds from one of the later VC rounds (which Ron Conway publicly objected to)? That sounds like something leaders of soulless corporations would do.
- cmbaus 13y ago
  I hadn't heard this. Dividends are a great way to screw over option holders, who are often employees.
  - DHowett 13y ago
    There were certainly other ways they were trying to screw over option holders (lit. employees), too. (EDIT: Source: Prior working relationship with the company. Fought "tooth and nail" against this Verified ID junk.)
    - e_w 13y ago
      Can you expand on that?
- kiyoto 13y ago
  No, it was Chamath who called them out (They later reconciled). http://allthingsd.com/20111001/vcs-unite-chamath-palihapitiya-decries-airbnbs-recent-112m-funding-for-excessive-founder-control-and-cashout-in-email/ http://allthingsd.com/20111001/vcs-unite-chamath-palihapitiy... and http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palihapitiya-settle-differences-with-employees-to-get-liquidity/ http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palih...
  - hkmurakami 13y ago
    Thx for the correction :) Did not know that they arranged to give employees liquidity after the initial news. >Brian and I have spoken at length and based on our discussions, I’ve learned some new items that have proven to me that everyone is paying serious and thoughtful attention to the needs of all shareholders including employees. Specifically, the company has developed a strategy about their next financing round where all employees who have been with the company for some length of time will participate in a structured liquidity program. While the details haven’t been finalized, I know Brian and completely trust that he will execute on his commitment. http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palihapitiya-settle-differences-with-employees-to-get-liquidity/ http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palih...
- triplesec 13y ago
  I think that was also Groupon, famously.
  - hkmurakami 13y ago
    Wasn't groupon just a straight equity cash out by the founders and some of the early investors? I don't remember hearing about a dividend.
    - triplesec 13y ago
      oh yes, I'm not au fait with the details of higher finance, so I'm sure you're right, but it still looked really dodgy to many given other aspects of the business
      - hkmurakami 13y ago
        No worries. FYI the reason a dividend is worse is because you don't even give up any of your equity, as is the case when you sell your shares early (Groupon).
        khuey 13y ago
        And it screws over employees with options.
- ryguytilidie 13y ago
  I love how people think this is rare.
- nitrogen 13y ago
  PG himself suggested that investors should let founders cash out partially during investment rounds, so they're less uncomfortable about swinging for the fences: http://www.paulgraham.com/vcsqueeze.html http://www.paulgraham.com/vcsqueeze.html
pvnick 13y ago
Is it possible that, being stuck between a rock and a hard place, they're trying to toe a thin tightrope (did I use that phrase correctly?) and, while well-intentioned, they may come off as a bit corporate?

hkmurakami 13y ago

Wasn't Airbnb the company where the founders took a special dividend using funds from one of the later VC rounds (which Ron Conway publicly objected to)? That sounds like something leaders of soulless corporations would do.

cmbaus 13y ago
I hadn't heard this. Dividends are a great way to screw over option holders, who are often employees.
- DHowett 13y ago
  There were certainly other ways they were trying to screw over option holders (lit. employees), too. (EDIT: Source: Prior working relationship with the company. Fought "tooth and nail" against this Verified ID junk.)
  - e_w 13y ago
    Can you expand on that?
kiyoto 13y ago
No, it was Chamath who called them out (They later reconciled). http://allthingsd.com/20111001/vcs-unite-chamath-palihapitiya-decries-airbnbs-recent-112m-funding-for-excessive-founder-control-and-cashout-in-email/ http://allthingsd.com/20111001/vcs-unite-chamath-palihapitiy... and http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palihapitiya-settle-differences-with-employees-to-get-liquidity/ http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palih...
- hkmurakami 13y ago
  Thx for the correction :) Did not know that they arranged to give employees liquidity after the initial news. >Brian and I have spoken at length and based on our discussions, I’ve learned some new items that have proven to me that everyone is paying serious and thoughtful attention to the needs of all shareholders including employees. Specifically, the company has developed a strategy about their next financing round where all employees who have been with the company for some length of time will participate in a structured liquidity program. While the details haven’t been finalized, I know Brian and completely trust that he will execute on his commitment. http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palihapitiya-settle-differences-with-employees-to-get-liquidity/ http://allthingsd.com/20111002/airbnb-investor-chamath-palih...
triplesec 13y ago
I think that was also Groupon, famously.
- hkmurakami 13y ago
  Wasn't groupon just a straight equity cash out by the founders and some of the early investors? I don't remember hearing about a dividend.
  - triplesec 13y ago
    oh yes, I'm not au fait with the details of higher finance, so I'm sure you're right, but it still looked really dodgy to many given other aspects of the business
    - hkmurakami 13y ago
      No worries. FYI the reason a dividend is worse is because you don't even give up any of your equity, as is the case when you sell your shares early (Groupon).
      - khuey 13y ago
        And it screws over employees with options.
ryguytilidie 13y ago
I love how people think this is rare.
nitrogen 13y ago
PG himself suggested that investors should let founders cash out partially during investment rounds, so they're less uncomfortable about swinging for the fences: http://www.paulgraham.com/vcsqueeze.html http://www.paulgraham.com/vcsqueeze.html

pvnick 13y ago

Is it possible that, being stuck between a rock and a hard place, they're trying to toe a thin tightrope (did I use that phrase correctly?) and, while well-intentioned, they may come off as a bit corporate?