Talent Acquisitions
marco.org
Talent Acquisitions
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Re: Talent Acquisitions
#2I'm the author of the popular Mac Instagram Client "InstaDesk" (http://www.instadesk-app.com) and I can only confirm this. The reason why I started this whole thing was because I was fed up with working in corporations and not being able to control my life. Now I can enjoy the sun during the day, outside, sitting at a lake, and work late into the evening - or vice versa work at the lake.
Even if a huge corporation would offer me a lot of money, I still wouldn't want to join since I would loose so much more. Money doesn't make me happy, freedom does. So, as long as InstaDesk (or other, future, apps) generate enough money for me to survive, I really doubt I would sell (with the exception that if the offer is, just as Marco said, really good and the continuation of InstaDesk is guaranteed).
However, a free life where I'm not obliged or controlled by anybody is just so so so good. (I say this after having worked in IT companies and startups since 2000).
So yeah, support the products you love, and spread good news about them, and give them good reviews.
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#3Being a long time instapaper user, thanks for sticking with it.
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#4This is very reassuring to instapaper users in this m&a environment.
Thank you
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#5I agree with the sentiment, but the difference between what you have (a healthy business, as you mention) and some other acquisitions is that some see the writing on the wall. True, some businesses throw in the towel too early for an attractive offer, but others know that without being the leader in a space they can't live up to their valuations, investment amount, or can't find a viable and sustainable business model for their product. It all depends on whether you're still having fun at your current business and whether it has a chance at succeeding. It's going to vary from startup to startup.
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#6Yeah it's just a tough situation. Even as a developer, I'm pretty sure I'd have trouble turning down a huge paycheck to go work for a reputable company. I've never built anything that's had a huge fan base though.
What are ways to show appreciation for a company/product you like aside from buying their product, tweeting an occasional praise, and liking their FB content? Is that enough?
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#7>I don’t want Instapaper to shut down, I don’t want to move my family across the country, and they didn’t want to pay enough
So if Marco was paid enough, would he let big companies shut down Instapaper by acquiring it?
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#8>If you want to keep the software and services around that you enjoy, do what you can to make their businesses successful enough that it’s more attractive to keep running them than to be hired by a big tech company.
Nice words, but I doubt it matters. Sparrow got nothing but support for their entire company history. Every review was golden. Every user was a paid user. And they still sold out.
(Or maybe Marco means people should join his subscription program: http://www.instapaper.com/subscription )
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#9Well, congrats to Marco for having a successful and sustainable business where he has the option and leverage to decide what he wants to do when these offers come knocking.
Most startup/bootstrapped companies are not in that position. Most end up failing and winding up with nothing, but there are some that will end up with these talent acquisition situations.
Remember, both sides (the acquirers and the acquirees) have to agree to the deal. Google doesn't just come along and say "we want to acquire you for your talent" and the other side has no say in the matter.
In this situation you are faced with a choice. Talent acqs happen because a) the acquire target is not really doing that well, and b) they have a group of people that work well together that the acquiring company wants to keep together to do great things under their umbrella.
Given the choice between: keep working on your low-to-modest traction product which isn't producing a lot of revenue and wonder how you might pay rent next month OR a multi-million dollar check/stock offer at a large, successful company... which would you choose? I would take the check in that situation. Sometimes you can't achieve your world-changing vision before your investor and personal money are gone.
The goal of a company should be to succeed and be self-sustaining, of course. But sometimes that doesn't happen, and these talent acqs happen for a reason.
Re: Talent Acquisitions
#10A talent acquisition signals something more than a job offer. It shows that you're able to conceive and build a product that people are willing to use. It also means that you've had experience negotiating terms. This is very important when/if you decide to take an entrepreneurial step after being at the acquihirer.
All things equal, future investors are more likely to trust someone who has had an acquisition in the past. You're more likely to get press exposure. All these things are meaningless if you're building something no one wants, but they definitely help if you're on the right track.