msuster

13 ms·

31.
by msuster 16y ago
thanks. if you have specific questions about how VC works make sure to ping me. I'll cover on This Week in VC.
32.
by msuster 16y ago
Basecamp in my mind (I wrote the article) is establishing a product that gains adoption and reaches a set of realistic milestones that can be achieved within 2 years rather than focusing on the summit (how big this can ultimately become). I
33.
by msuster 16y ago
Watch the show. He talked about trying $13.99 and other price points. Nothing converted better than $12.
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The Next Big Layer in the Cloud: Data as a Service(bothsidesofthetable.com)
4 points by msuster 16y ago|0 comments
35.
by msuster 16y ago
As I wrote in the article the interpretation is left to the investor. It could be product features shipped. It could be biz dev deals signed. It could be talented people hired. Whatever. The point is that you get to see how the person
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by msuster 16y ago
I don't assume that at all. I'm arguing in favor of investors getting out and spending time with entrepreneurs now that they might want to fund later so that your line becomes someone else's dot.
37.
by msuster 16y ago
All you do is choose different words than I do but I suspect we're not a million miles off. You talk of "not being a bully, not being a softie." That is sufficiently vague as to be acceptable and populist. But it is a hard line to walk an
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by msuster 16y ago
Perhaps my language didn't properly reflect my thoughts. I did mean the latter. thank you.
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by msuster 16y ago
I understand why you would be uncomfortable about it. But I firmly believe that giving an employee time to reflect on what went wrong & why is important. And they need distance to achieve this. If you're immediately chummy with them a
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by msuster 16y ago
Yeah, it's true that the buyer needs to be convinced, but don't underestimate the persuasion of well-connected, senior-level VCs
41.
by msuster 16y ago
It was an error - sorry. I meant to put it under KP. thanks for spotting.
42.
by msuster 16y ago
Obviously depends on your interests. I do a video & podcast every week that covers startup lessons, venture capital advice and deals funded for the week. It's called This Week in Venture Capital. http://thisweekin.com/thisweekin-ventu
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by msuster 16y ago
37Signals is a phenomenally successful company. The exception does not prove the rule.
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by msuster 16y ago
I'm not against you. I think some developers working remotely can be useful. I am also OK with any team member working a day or two from home. Finally, from an environmental point you're absolutely correct. My biggest argument is that ma
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by msuster 16y ago
I don't have "weird" preferences - just ones that are different from yours. I don't play it "by ear" - I used to develop software myself and I built and sold two software companies. I accept other people's arguments and even change my opin
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by msuster 16y ago
More accurate summary: author (me) believes that teams that colocate the three most critical people (CEO, VP Product & CTO) perform much better. I think some developers can be remote.
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by msuster 16y ago
Great story! And exactly the point. The other saying is "you can't make an omelet unless you're willing to break eggs." I don't mind getting messy from time-to-time. When you take risks like your partner did it backfires sometimes. But
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by msuster 16y ago
Mostly if you're doing the asking and you don't hear what you want you need a plan anyways for what you'll drill down on. If you don't go into the meeting with a pre-planned agenda you're unlikely to achieve objectives.
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by msuster 16y ago
These same people on a bad day wouldn't likely say FU to my face. They would argue with me and I would listen. But verbal insults of this type are usually encouraged by anonymity where people feel brave using this language with no attribu
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by msuster 16y ago
OK. I accept that. And the truth is that I really did value the push back that I got. I only felt it was over the top when invective language was used and personal emails were sent.
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by msuster 16y ago
Vojislav, Thank you. Well written and fair points. I was expecting negative comments and wrote "let 'er rip" as a way to add some levity. But you're right that it doesn't achieve what I'm after. I will change it. Mark
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by msuster 16y ago
I normally avoid being inflammatory. I wrote my original post too quickly and late at night. I agree it wasn't well worded and accepted (almost) all criticisms. I don't think that forgives people saying FU or similar. There is a difference
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by msuster 16y ago
I wrote the first post. The title was too extreme. I acknowledged that and apologized for it. I agree that many of the comments were fair and said so in this post. This isn't my first post to get FU's. I can live with that. I still wonde
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by msuster 16y ago
Do you feel better about yourself about saying this about me anonymously on HN? re "you are not my Mother or Father" - I never asked you to read my blog. So the implication that I'm lecturing you is a stretch. I welcome people to disagree
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by msuster 16y ago
Hardly bitter. Hardly "elderly." And I have tons of young entrepreneurs that I work with. Just because you disagree with my POV doesn't mean you have to try and launch a personal attack on me. What do you gain by this?
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by msuster 16y ago
Funny how your tone and language just reinforces one's perceptions of you.
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by msuster 16y ago
Director, VP, COO or even CEO roles at startups. To find these jobs the best sources are the ones I mentioned. You don't have to agree with me: but my empirical evidence suggests this is true. Now ... I'm clearly not talking about develo
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by msuster 16y ago
That's because you were a student. I carved young people out of my argument. It's mostly about senior hires.
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by msuster 16y ago
Nice that you "genuinely hate me" given that you don't even know me. Very easily to "hate" people online you've never met. Harder in person where we don't easily fit some stereotype you have in your mind.
60.
by msuster 16y ago
You're way off base. - I haven't lost any employees so painting me with that brush is wrong - I never made any commentary on the guy who left Mahalo - I wrote him a private email making it clear that my commentary had nothing to do with h

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