TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#1

Post by PStamatiou » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:20 AM UTC

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#2

Post by garbowza » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:43 AM UTC

This seems so obvious in hindsight. Despite "The Social Network"-generated interest, startups are simply too boring to make for great ratings without some manufactured drama.

I feel for those who applied to TechStars NY, not knowing about the circus they were getting into. Startups are hard enough without additional, external distractions.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#3

Post by jswinghammer » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:43 AM UTC

This doesn't surprise me considering how it's clear they were trying to play up the drama angle in some of the other startups on the show. I honestly thought after seeing it that she was starting a Groupon like thing for fashion and found that it didn't work. That LinkedIn thing was particularly weird too. It's good that she wrote this because the show sort of made her look foolish.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#4

Post by badclient » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:51 AM UTC

This actually reflects poorly on TechStars that they gave so much access to a media source without proper negotiaion and/or enforcement.

To the OP I say "what did you expect?". If you are not versed with the media and yet agree on giving them hours and hours of access, you will get some twisted final product more times than not.

Also why PR firms still exist.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#5

Post by jswinghammer » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:52 AM UTC

garbowza wrote: post #2

This seems so obvious in hindsight. Despite "The Social Network"-generated interest, startups are simply too boring to make for great ratings without some manufactured drama. I feel for those who applied to TechStars NY, not knowing about the circus they were getting into. Startups are hard enough without additional, external distractions.

I would find a show about start-ups without drama interesting. There are reality shows that seem to be fairly drama free like "19 and counting" (so I'm told anyway). I honestly feel like the producers of the show weren't giving the audience enough credit and just made up normal reality show nonsense.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#6

Post by pedalpete » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:53 AM UTC

Do people here think TechStars is somewhat to blame in this? they are the ones who are running the incubator and hosting the companies. Why would they bring in this sort of outside factor into an already challenging environment. If they were unaware of how the show would turn out, I suspect all they needed to do was speak to reality tv producers (other than those who produced this show), and they would have been told about the story writers, story developers, etc. etc.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#7

Post by genieyclo » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:56 AM UTC

Speaking of Bravo, they're looking for people to be in their new Silicon Valley reality TV show, I submitted a story about it a week ago: http://www.psfk.com/2011/10/bravo-seeking-young-professional...

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#8

Post by drags » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:57 AM UTC

It's possible to make "process" and "strategy" interesting without twisting facts: "The War Room" is a great example. It's unfortunate that the producers of this series weren't up to the task.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#9

Post by melanie_io » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 1:59 AM UTC

badclient wrote: post #4

This actually reflects poorly on TechStars that they gave so much access to a media source without proper negotiaion and/or enforcement. To the OP I say "what did you expect?". If you are not versed with the media and yet agree on giving them hours and hours of access, you will get some twisted final product more times than not. Also why PR firms still exist.

You are right - this is exactly what I DID expect would happen - even though it was sold to us as a documentary on a business channel. Unfortunately, every company in our TechStars class was forced to participate. So, the decision for all of us was: drop out of TechStars or do the show.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#10

Post by dannyr » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:03 AM UTC

melanie_io wrote: post #9

badclient wrote: post #4

This actually reflects poorly on TechStars that they gave so much access to a media source without proper negotiaion and/or enforcement. To the OP I say "what did you expect?". If you are not versed with the media and yet agree on giving them hours and hours of access, you will get some twisted final product more times than not. Also why PR firms still exist.

You are right - this is exactly what I DID expect would happen - even though it was sold to us as a documentary on a business channel. Unfortunately, every company in our TechStars class was forced to participate. So, the decision for all of us was: drop out of TechStars or do the show.

Melanie,

Props to you for showing up at the reunion show despite how you were portrayed.

I guess that last show was part of the contract too right?