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Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

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Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#21

heroku 94% pg 6% (early 2008) --- $3M Series A (mid 2008) Assuming a $2M pre-money: heroku 37.6% pg 2.4% series A 60% --- $10M Series B (2010) Assuming a $5M pre-money: heroku 12.5% pg 0.8% series A 20% series B 66.6% --- $212M Exit: heroku $26.5M pg $1.7M series A $42.4 series B $141.3 --- result: series A $3M -> $42.4M // 14X in 2.5 years series B $10M -> $141M // 14X in 1 year pg $17K -> $1.7M // 100X in 3 years A…

60% dilution at Series A? I don't think so. Typical is 20-30%, afaik.

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#22
I really hate it when people to give arbitrary numbers to things like 'Cloud 2'.

It's still just cloud computing. 'Cloud 2' doesn't actually -mean- anything. It's not a standard. It's not like you can say something is or isn't Cloud 2 by any objective means.

It's marketing speak, and who exactly is he marketing it to? All developers see right through it and know it doesn't mean anything. All clients only care that their products work. What tech they're built on doesn't mean a thing.

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#23
post #10

Anyone know what this means for Heroku? I love their service and I'd really hate to see it depart from what it is. I'm really happy for the Heroku guys, but I'm also kind of nervous because I can think of so many ways Salesforce can screw this up.

“The next era of cloud computing is social, mobile and real-time. I call it Cloud 2 ,” said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO, salesforce.com I don't think we have anything to worry about...

Of course not. He knows almost all the buzz words. Although, he could have added something about game mechanics and location awareness.

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#24

This is great news for Heroku and YC (congratulations folks!). That said, does anyone have any insights on why exactly SalesForce would buy Heroku? What is the business rationale? "This is Salesforce’s fifth acquisition this year. Earlier purchases include Activa Live, Sitemasher and Jigsaw. Salesforce.com also spent $170 million to fully acquire its Japanese subsidiary, Salesforce Japan." Anyone see a pattern? I don…

My guess as to why is here:

http://swombat.com/2010/12/8/salesforce-buys-heroku

(in short, Salesforce is looking to make a credible entry into the "public IT cloud provider" sector - much like they signalled with database.com yesterday)

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#25

heroku 94% pg 6% (early 2008) --- $3M Series A (mid 2008) Assuming a $2M pre-money: heroku 37.6% pg 2.4% series A 60% --- $10M Series B (2010) Assuming a $5M pre-money: heroku 12.5% pg 0.8% series A 20% series B 66.6% --- $212M Exit: heroku $26.5M pg $1.7M series A $42.4 series B $141.3 --- result: series A $3M -> $42.4M // 14X in 2.5 years series B $10M -> $141M // 14X in 1 year pg $17K -> $1.7M // 100X in 3 years A…

Is that really how much VC dilutes you?

From 94 > 37% series A is incredible, and ending up with 12.5%.

I wouldn't exactly be crying into my beer today if I was them, but I have to wonder if VC was worth it vs building organically for a few more years.

Especially when they are all Amazon based etc. Where did the money go?

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#26

I really hate it when people to give arbitrary numbers to things like 'Cloud 2'. It's still just cloud computing. 'Cloud 2' doesn't actually -mean- anything. It's not a standard. It's not like you can say something is or isn't Cloud 2 by any objective means. It's marketing speak, and who exactly is he marketing it to? All developers see right through it and know it doesn't mean anything. All clients only care that th…

I bet the Heroku guys now know what NASA scientists must feel like; Cloud 2 is their Dasani.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/cokesponsored-rover-finds-e...

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#27
post #21

heroku 94% pg 6% (early 2008) --- $3M Series A (mid 2008) Assuming a $2M pre-money: heroku 37.6% pg 2.4% series A 60% --- $10M Series B (2010) Assuming a $5M pre-money: heroku 12.5% pg 0.8% series A 20% series B 66.6% --- $212M Exit: heroku $26.5M pg $1.7M series A $42.4 series B $141.3 --- result: series A $3M -> $42.4M // 14X in 2.5 years series B $10M -> $141M // 14X in 1 year pg $17K -> $1.7M // 100X in 3 years A…

60% dilution at Series A? I don't think so. Typical is 20-30%, afaik.

its a guess. they received Series A in a very early stage, just out of the oven of YC's (may '08)

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#28
This sounds like stellar news for Heroku employees and investors.

I'm not sure how it's going to be good for Heroku customers (like me) in the long-term. There will be the inevitable brain drain over the course of 1-2years when key staff move away as their contract clauses run out and then we'll be left with Heroku being run by SalesForce :(

Re: Salesforce Buys Heroku (YC W08) For $212 Million In Cash

#30
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

60% dilution at Series A? I don't think so. Typical is 20-30%, afaik.

its a guess. they received Series A in a very early stage, just out of the oven of YC's (may '08)

Even so, giving up percentage is like giving blood. I don't know of any founder who would ever willingly part with 60% of the company - particularly if it's doing well! The only people who give up 60% of a company are the poor guys on dragon's den...
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