How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
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How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
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Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#2I don't have any relevant experience, but this sounds odd. If the product was good (better than Zenter), than why didn't they acquire Preezo at that later point in time?
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#3A great read about politeness (though it had some negotiating impacts) causing a missed opportunity. I too err on the side of politeness when it comes to business interactions and I've learned that more often than not, when I'm dealing with someone remotely whether it be a colleague or a point of contact, that the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
I think it was a mistake to let it ride for so long. A few weeks, maybe two months, and I would have called them up and followed up. Even a short email positioning myself as asking more out of curiosity than need for an acquisition, etc.
Anyone else agree? Would you have followed up?
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#4Preezo sounds like it was built to be acquired from day one. I think that mindset makes it a lot more difficult to deal with missed opportunities and can really make the entire experience of building a product unenjoyable. This is probably why so many people suggest building something you want instead of what you think others will want; at least you can enjoy the fruits of your labor in the process.
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#5A great read about politeness (though it had some negotiating impacts) causing a missed opportunity. I too err on the side of politeness when it comes to business interactions and I've learned that more often than not, when I'm dealing with someone remotely whether it be a colleague or a point of contact, that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. I think it was a mistake to let it ride for so long. A few weeks, maybe two…
Agreed. As a starter upper, I'm always the little guy who's chasing the bigger guy (investor, client). I try not to be pushy, but if 1-2 weeks go by, I'll write a friendly what's up email and that usually works.
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#6Jonathan Rochelle repeated wryly and with a smile, "Yes, time to go. Google is here,"
WTF? Is Google the mob or something? Almost seems like the next line should have been, "And I was never seen or heard from again."
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#7A great read about politeness (though it had some negotiating impacts) causing a missed opportunity. I too err on the side of politeness when it comes to business interactions and I've learned that more often than not, when I'm dealing with someone remotely whether it be a colleague or a point of contact, that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. I think it was a mistake to let it ride for so long. A few weeks, maybe two…
Yes, in retrospect I was stupid not to at least have sent a short email or two. Honestly, I look back and wonder what the hell I was thinking.
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#8Definitely a frustrating story to read. That said, two things stand out:
1) Deals fall through. PG et all write about this all the time. It's probably easy to figure why they fail in hindsight, but that doesn't make them any easier to manage in the future.
2) It seems like the main premise of the idea was to get bought by google/yahoo/microsoft. That is a dangerous strategy to employ out of the gates (although back in 2005 there was no hacker news and a whole let less general knowledge about the black art of startups).
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#9Jonathan Rochelle repeated wryly and with a smile, "Yes, time to go. Google is here," WTF? Is Google the mob or something? Almost seems like the next line should have been, "And I was never seen or heard from again."
No, Jonathan Rochelle was a really nice guy. I think he just knew that that demo was going to be a big deal for me and that it was probably something I had been hoping and waiting for. He was right.
Re: How I Screwed Up My Google Acquisition
#10Another one I learned that pops up in this tale: get on the plane if the meeting is important.