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Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

paulgraham.com

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Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#11

Post by dalbasal »

SquibblesRedux wrote: post #4

I was courted by corp dev from a big public company. It was quite an experience -- events, dinners, wine, private meetings, large groups of the corp folks hanging on every word. They got pretty pushy, demanding to know trade secrets to keep going with a negotiation. At the end of it I pulled the plug because it was clear they were not working in our interest. (The word "pillage" comes to mind.) The experience was nic…

Time is cheap, relatively to focus, IMO. I think it takes a pretty seasoned businessman to pursue or negotiate (even half-seriously) an acquisition... and paying the "price" in time only.

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#13

Post by mistrial9 »

idbehold wrote: post #7

Is there a reason he doesn't have HTTPS on his site? Firefox throws up a giant warning when I try to visit.

side note - I have some misc content that is http today in 2021 - I feel that the original HTML spec is better than modern web in some ways, therefore I like sticking to http here and there, when I chose, based on first principles

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#14

Post by scubbo »

davesque wrote: post #10

I think I've really gotten into the habit of disagreeing with Paul Graham's blogs lately but this one felt different. Felt like a lot of practical, common sense advice that is just barely beyond the horizon that most people consider. Of course, it won't apply in every situation but it felt hard to disagree with the overall sentiment. Note: I say I've been disagreeing with him lately and, of course, this blog wasn't w…

This was _precisely_ my reaction. "Life Is Short"[0] remains a great piece that I return to time-and-again, but most of his other stuff that I've read recently seems to miss the mark - unlike this one.

[0] http://www.paulgraham.com/vb.html

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#15

Post by kordlessagain »

davesque wrote: post #10

I think I've really gotten into the habit of disagreeing with Paul Graham's blogs lately but this one felt different. Felt like a lot of practical, common sense advice that is just barely beyond the horizon that most people consider. Of course, it won't apply in every situation but it felt hard to disagree with the overall sentiment. Note: I say I've been disagreeing with him lately and, of course, this blog wasn't w…

I’ll disagree then because Corp Dev, like most tags, can mean something else like a group at a corporation responsible for strategic decisions to grow and restructure its business, establish strategic partnerships, and/or achieve organizational excellence.

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#16

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

mistrial9 wrote: post #13
idbehold wrote: post #7

Is there a reason he doesn't have HTTPS on his site? Firefox throws up a giant warning when I try to visit.

side note - I have some misc content that is http today in 2021 - I feel that the original HTML spec is better than modern web in some ways, therefore I like sticking to http here and there, when I chose, based on first principles

Old HTML might be fine, but sending it over an insecure connection isn't.

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#17

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

lnanek2 wrote: post #6

He actually didn't even cover one of the worst parts about the whole process - fake buyers who just want to steal your tech. I was working at a startup with a ground breaking product no one had released before, we had shipped hundreds of prototypes and gotten good reviews and had plenty of orders, but board redesigns and setting up a factory assembly line for the production models was eating into our cash and runway.…

Wouldn't acquisition talks be covered in NDAs to prevent precisely this?

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#18

Post by ufmace »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #17
lnanek2 wrote: post #6

He actually didn't even cover one of the worst parts about the whole process - fake buyers who just want to steal your tech. I was working at a startup with a ground breaking product no one had released before, we had shipped hundreds of prototypes and gotten good reviews and had plenty of orders, but board redesigns and setting up a factory assembly line for the production models was eating into our cash and runway.…

Wouldn't acquisition talks be covered in NDAs to prevent precisely this?

Possibly, but even if it's airtight, good luck with actually filing a lawsuit about it, getting it through the courts, getting a decision in your favor, and actually enforcing it against a corp with a much bigger legal budget than you before they eat you for breakfast in the market.

Re: Don't Talk to Corp Dev (2015)

#19

Post by splistud »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #17
lnanek2 wrote: post #6

He actually didn't even cover one of the worst parts about the whole process - fake buyers who just want to steal your tech. I was working at a startup with a ground breaking product no one had released before, we had shipped hundreds of prototypes and gotten good reviews and had plenty of orders, but board redesigns and setting up a factory assembly line for the production models was eating into our cash and runway.…

Wouldn't acquisition talks be covered in NDAs to prevent precisely this?

Sure. Creates a lot of nice evidence for you to present in the lawsuit over the next decade (if you can afford it).
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