Dropbox buys HelloSign (YC W11) for $230M

This acquisition will fail if Whitney, Neal and the HelloSign team isn't given the freedom and authority to direct integration, marketing and product direction going forward.

HelloSign has demonstrated competencies Dropbox has not. Great that Dropbox nailed sync, desktop integration and sharing years ago; but since then they've done little to show any vision or execution in marketing, sales or product direction.

As a Dropbox shareholder and user I am hoping the Dropbox team will give their HelloSign colleagues the freedom and authority needed to save Dropbox from almost certain failure. The sync, store and search ship sailed long ago.

There are two more acquisitions I'd like to see Dropbox make this year of private companies to round out the product line.

Re: Dropbox buys HelloSign (YC W11) for $230M

#6

Post by chosenbreed37 » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

> Dropbox snares HelloSign (YC W11) for $230

The title appears to have a negative slant. Is the modern jargon for acquisitions of this nature?

Re: Dropbox buys HelloSign (YC W11) for $230M

#7

Post by amyjess » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 2:58 PM UTC

Hmm... the headline has me wondering what was the first time one YC startup bought another YC startup.

Is this the first time? Or has it happened before?

Re: Dropbox buys HelloSign (YC W11) for $230M

#8

Post by gruez » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 3:00 PM UTC

There's something I never understood about e-signature services: how are they legally binding? Why do we need them at all? The end users don't have control over any of the keys, so it all hinges on the e-signature service telling the truth. It's significantly less secure than say, S/MIME with a proper CA-signed certificate. Is the bar for legal "signatures" really that low?

Re: Dropbox buys HelloSign (YC W11) for $230M

#9

Post by kayhi » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 3:01 PM UTC

rrggrr wrote: post #5

This acquisition will fail if Whitney, Neal and the HelloSign team isn't given the freedom and authority to direct integration, marketing and product direction going forward. HelloSign has demonstrated competencies Dropbox has not. Great that Dropbox nailed sync, desktop integration and sharing years ago; but since then they've done little to show any vision or execution in marketing, sales or product direction. As a…

which two?

Re: Dropbox buys HelloSign (YC W11) for $230M

#10

Post by rrggrr » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 3:02 PM UTC

gruez wrote: post #8

There's something I never understood about e-signature services: how are they legally binding? Why do we need them at all? The end users don't have control over any of the keys, so it all hinges on the e-signature service telling the truth. It's significantly less secure than say, S/MIME with a proper CA-signed certificate. Is the bar for legal "signatures" really that low?

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/chapter-96/subcha...

Its no less secure than faxing signed documents.