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Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

nytimes.com

121–130 of 443 posts

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it so offensive to people in this industry that our skills are valued? Sometimes it seems a little crazy to me too, but I'm not, like, excited to need to live with 5 roommates 90 minutes away from work again like you seem to be.

The GP is not complaining that our skills are valued, it's complaining that those companies have an awful low productivity. You know, people filling low productivity jobs means that our skills aren't valued enough.

[deleted]

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#123
Talking about startups in difficulties, any idea how wework is doing these days ? I would expect the work spaces being near empty, and for the companies renting spaces they might be even pulling the plug. I am worried that if wework goes under because of the pandemic (and SoftBank realizing that it is not worth being salvaged), then it would trigger a domino effect in the whole US commercial real estate market.

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#124
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all startups require VC capital, some of us are just running without venture funding just clients money, some startups are in better shape because are on right market on the right time. You just need to be in the right time.

And you’re probably not looking for a large exit. You are trying that unheard of concept of spending less than you make. What you are doing is running a “lifestyle business”. That’s not a negative despite what the tech bro’s think. I hate the idea of success for a company seems to be “we got another round of funding while losing money”.

When you raise money it's not a win, it's an obligation

- Mark Cuban

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#125
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You weren’t around in 2000 or 2008 were you? Your startup is only in “better shape” as long as VCs are willing to keep funding you. VCs are only willing to keep funding you if they have confidence that you will have a profitable exit.

Not all startups require VC capital, some of us are just running without venture funding just clients money, some startups are in better shape because are on right market on the right time. You just need to be in the right time.

> just clients money

And I imagine some of those clients may have money problems resulting from the crisis too, directly or indirectly. Nobody is totally isolated.

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#126
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You weren’t around in 2000 or 2008 were you? Your startup is only in “better shape” as long as VCs are willing to keep funding you. VCs are only willing to keep funding you if they have confidence that you will have a profitable exit.

Not all startups require VC capital, some of us are just running without venture funding just clients money, some startups are in better shape because are on right market on the right time. You just need to be in the right time.

Absolutely true — but the GP point about startups being “better prepared” because they already have runway and expect zero revenues (an opinion I wholly disagree with), doesn’t apply if the startup doesn’t have funding. As you say, a lot of this is about timing (and I’ll add, luck plays a massive role here too).

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#127
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You weren’t around in 2000 or 2008 were you? Your startup is only in “better shape” as long as VCs are willing to keep funding you. VCs are only willing to keep funding you if they have confidence that you will have a profitable exit.

Not all startups require VC capital, some of us are just running without venture funding just clients money, some startups are in better shape because are on right market on the right time. You just need to be in the right time.

> some of us are just running without venture funding just clients money

That sort of startup probably also counts as a “traditional small businesses.”

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#128
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all startups require VC capital, some of us are just running without venture funding just clients money, some startups are in better shape because are on right market on the right time. You just need to be in the right time.

And you’re probably not looking for a large exit. You are trying that unheard of concept of spending less than you make. What you are doing is running a “lifestyle business”. That’s not a negative despite what the tech bro’s think. I hate the idea of success for a company seems to be “we got another round of funding while losing money”.

It's only a lifestyle business if they aren't interested in hyper-growth & all

Otherwise, "just" spending less than you make and trying to make it on their own only makes them bootstrapped, don't you think?

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#129
post #54

Startups are in way better shape than traditional small businesses. By our very nature, we need months of runway just to keep running. We're designed to weather this kind of storm because "zero revenue" is the default state. Hearing about Bird cutting 30% of their workforce is awful. But it's nothing compared to the thin-margin Mom & Pop, or medium sized private enterprise that had 1 week of cash on hand and ceased o…

“months” is a vague term here. You have two months funding? I have some very bad news about what the world is still going to be like in two months time. Six months? The news is still not going to be great. You have a year of funding? OK, now we’re talking. And even then we’re talking cautiously.

The economic fallout from this is going to be huge. And if you think tech startups are immune to that you’re in for a shock.

Re: Startups are pummeled in the ‘great unwinding’

#130
post #54

Startups are in way better shape than traditional small businesses. By our very nature, we need months of runway just to keep running. We're designed to weather this kind of storm because "zero revenue" is the default state. Hearing about Bird cutting 30% of their workforce is awful. But it's nothing compared to the thin-margin Mom & Pop, or medium sized private enterprise that had 1 week of cash on hand and ceased o…

You weren’t around in 2000 or 2008 were you? Your startup is only in “better shape” as long as VCs are willing to keep funding you. VCs are only willing to keep funding you if they have confidence that you will have a profitable exit.

> as long as VCs are willing to keep funding you

The markets present an even more compelling opportunity for high risk return at the moment.

I'd argue that VCs (being opportunists at heart) are very likely to redirect funds and shun startups for a while e.g. likely as long as post tech bubble timeframe.

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