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Techcrunch did not start hitting the HN front page 10-20 times a day until the last 12 months or so, and Google Trends (http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcr

by rwolf 17y ago

Techcrunch did not start hitting the HN front page 10-20 times a day until the last 12 months or so, and Google Trends (http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22 http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22) seems to indicate that I'm not the only one who hasn't heard of their conference until this month. In summary: the excitement does not seem to be based on reputation. I get that the companies that are going want us to think it's important, but why would a startup that's not going hype it up?

thwarted 17y ago
It's only ever mentioned for a month, and it was called "Techcrunch 40" in 2007, which was its first year.
- rwolf 17y ago
  I thought the total lack of a blip in 2007 was odd--thanks for clearing that up. edit: http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22%2C+%22techcrunch+40%22 http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22%2C+%22tec...
abossy 17y ago
When your entire world becomes immersed in startup life, these types of events grow to paramount importance in the minds of entrepreneurs, often to unrealistic levels. It's the same reason an entrepreneur broke into Arrington's house to get a story, spat in his face, etc. Furthrmore, making yourself deceptively important allows you to charge ~$2k/company, which Arrington is particularly good at. To be fair, several companies that have launched at TC40/50 are rapidly growing. Mint is the first example that comes to mind, and I think DropBox and Xobni as well. For all the companies whose TC press has helped them, I would approximate that more than 99% of successful companies have not relied on TC for press. That's the danger of living in a bubble and I believe why this particular author hypes it up.
- rwolf 17y ago
  The examples of companies that have benefited helped explain the hype for me, thanks. I hope I don't sound critical of startups getting excited about a chance to shine--my grumpiness has much more to do with the greasiness of advertising than the oddities of human nature.
falsestprophet 17y ago
That is about the time Techcrunch started writing about Hacker News.

by rwolf 17y ago

thwarted 17y ago

It's only ever mentioned for a month, and it was called "Techcrunch 40" in 2007, which was its first year.

rwolf 17y ago
I thought the total lack of a blip in 2007 was odd--thanks for clearing that up. edit: http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22%2C+%22techcrunch+40%22 http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22%2C+%22tec...

abossy 17y ago

When your entire world becomes immersed in startup life, these types of events grow to paramount importance in the minds of entrepreneurs, often to unrealistic levels. It's the same reason an entrepreneur broke into Arrington's house to get a story, spat in his face, etc. Furthrmore, making yourself deceptively important allows you to charge ~$2k/company, which Arrington is particularly good at. To be fair, several companies that have launched at TC40/50 are rapidly growing. Mint is the first example that comes to mind, and I think DropBox and Xobni as well. For all the companies whose TC press has helped them, I would approximate that more than 99% of successful companies have not relied on TC for press. That's the danger of living in a bubble and I believe why this particular author hypes it up.

rwolf 17y ago
The examples of companies that have benefited helped explain the hype for me, thanks. I hope I don't sound critical of startups getting excited about a chance to shine--my grumpiness has much more to do with the greasiness of advertising than the oddities of human nature.

falsestprophet 17y ago

That is about the time Techcrunch started writing about Hacker News.