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SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

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Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#31

Zenefits paid a fine for misleading investors (with some contribution from the founder). The company is financed by investors, so in other words they indirectly paid the fine for being misled. Ironic?

This is why (some) Theranos shareholders have agreed to not sue.

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#32
post #15
post #4

It's interesting that I can't think of any of these megagrowth tech startups that have gone off without a hitch. Zenefits, Uber, Snapchat, etc. are all in some form of trouble or another, and yet these companies are supposed to be the shining success stories that all other tech startups aspire to.

It doesn't help that VCs actively promote and foster founders who behave in ways that would get themselves in trouble. I guess in the case of Zenefits misleading investors is a rule that doesn't "matter". 4. Naughtiness Though the most successful founders are usually good people, they tend to have a piratical gleam in their eye. They're not Goody Two-Shoes type good. Morally, they care about getting the big questions…

That is a good and necessary thing in order to create a company. If you’re used to obeying rules (especially unwritten ones) you’ll never get off the ground in the first place.

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#33
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't help that VCs actively promote and foster founders who behave in ways that would get themselves in trouble. I guess in the case of Zenefits misleading investors is a rule that doesn't "matter". 4. Naughtiness Though the most successful founders are usually good people, they tend to have a piratical gleam in their eye. They're not Goody Two-Shoes type good. Morally, they care about getting the big questions…

That is a good and necessary thing in order to create a company. If you’re used to obeying rules (especially unwritten ones) you’ll never get off the ground in the first place.

> If you’re used to obeying rules (especially unwritten ones) you’ll never get off the ground in the first place.

I know plenty of people who "get off the ground" by playing by the rules. I'd love for you to re-read your comment again and tell me that it doesn't sound dogmatic.

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#34
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is a good and necessary thing in order to create a company. If you’re used to obeying rules (especially unwritten ones) you’ll never get off the ground in the first place.

> If you’re used to obeying rules (especially unwritten ones) you’ll never get off the ground in the first place. I know plenty of people who "get off the ground" by playing by the rules. I'd love for you to re-read your comment again and tell me that it doesn't sound dogmatic.

Of course it’s a general statement and doesn’t represent 100% of instances.

But it’s generally true. Find me a billion dollar company started by someone who follows all the rules.

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#35

Zenefits paid a fine for misleading investors (with some contribution from the founder). The company is financed by investors, so in other words they indirectly paid the fine for being misled. Ironic?

"Under the terms of the agreement, which contained no admission of liability, all Series A, B and C investors had the right to receive an increased equity stake in Zenefits in exchange for the investors releasing all claims against the Company. The increased ownership was effectuated by allowing such investors to exchange shares of Series A, B and/or C stock for a new series of Series A-1, B-1 and C-1 stock with a higher conversion rate of preferred shares to common, which had the effect of diluting the ownership of the other classes of existing shareholders (Founders Preferred Stock and Common Stock), including Conrad. Following the settlement, Zenefits had an implied post-money valuation of approximately $2.0 billion, down about 56% from the original valuation." [1]

Value was re-allocated from founders and employees to investors.

[1] https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2017/33-10429.pdf § 46

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#37
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's really the case here, HN doesn't seem to have many kind words for the makers of sham ICOs. How you get rich matters - if it's from making a huge business that's generally helpful, people admire you much more.

> How you get rich matters It really doesn't. There is a very narrow set of circumstances that would aversely affect your place in society based on how you earned it. Just think about how often it actually comes up regarding the wealthier people you may know or have heard about. Your wealthier neighbor. Odds are you never dug for all the civil litigation they encountered, or the relative morality behind each case or…

People definitely judge someone based on how they made their money. Look at trust fund kids, for a trivial example.

I'm not saying there aren't a number of advantages to being wealthy, there certainly are.

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#38
post #20
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's really the case here, HN doesn't seem to have many kind words for the makers of sham ICOs. How you get rich matters - if it's from making a huge business that's generally helpful, people admire you much more.

“How you get rich matters...” Peter Thiel. The Bushes. Bill Gates. George Soros. Warren Buffett. IBM. Bayer.

What's the point you're trying to get across?

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#39
post #38
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“How you get rich matters...” Peter Thiel. The Bushes. Bill Gates. George Soros. Warren Buffett. IBM. Bayer.

What's the point you're trying to get across?

How you get rich doesn’t matter to many people, especially those “strivers” like so many here hoping to become rich themselves. People don’t tolerate the likes of Thiel, Weinstein, Etc because they’re decent people... it’s just money and power.

Edit: Do you have a point?

Re: SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors

#40
post #13
post #4

It's interesting that I can't think of any of these megagrowth tech startups that have gone off without a hitch. Zenefits, Uber, Snapchat, etc. are all in some form of trouble or another, and yet these companies are supposed to be the shining success stories that all other tech startups aspire to.

The reason to be skeptical of the "shining success story" ideal is the underlying, incorrect assumption that success is about being free of faults. Success is about achievement far in excess of the average. When a change is massive, it usually hurts someone. Sometimes things that seem really positive, like facebook helping kids stay in touch, contain massive negatives, like amplifying polarization in society. That's…

"helping kids stay in touch" doesn't sound "really positive". I don't know if that was your intent.
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