Talent Acquisitions • Hacker News Board

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#21

Post by JeremyBanks » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:21 PM UTC

tb303 wrote: post #12

So now that I've paid for instapaper for iPhone and iPad, I don't have to give Marco any more money. That means the only way he stays in business as the product grows (being that I am not a revenue source anymore) is by either a) figuring out an additional revenue stream from the data or b) discontinuing the apps I paid for and charging me for new ones. The same goes for sparrow. These one-time purchase apps don't ha…

Instapaper isn't entirely without other revenue. The web interface displays ads, and he offers a $1/month subscription that improves some features. (I pay for it so that I can send larger compilations to my Kindle.)

http://www.instapaper.com/subscription

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#22

Post by mikeash » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:21 PM UTC

justauser wrote: post #16

jmduke wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. 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 re…

Maybe it is to the point now where it is disingenuous for a company NOT to have a banner on every page stating if they are open to investments or acquihire? At least users would know there is an intention/desire/dream to head for greener pastures if given the chance. It is quite alright to disclose as a small business owner that things are slow or somethings are not quite going to plan. If you've got a userbase that…

Shouldn't that banner just be implied? Yes, company X is open to investments or being acquired if the right offer comes along. This should not be a surprise to anyone.

Should we require employees to wear a sign to work everyday saying that they will leave their job for a better one if the right offer comes along?

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#23

Post by terhechte » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:22 PM UTC

jazzychad wrote: post #9

Well, 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) hav…

In Sparrow's case, though, one has to say that it looks as if they had a sustainable business. After all, they were always in the top 30 of the App Stores. That should equivalent to a lot of money.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#24

Post by leftnode » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:25 PM UTC

jmduke wrote: post #13

jazzychad wrote: post #9

Well, 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) hav…

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. 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 re…

Is this something you can really plan out from the beginning? How many millions of developers would love to be able to create a product that drives enough attention to ensure an acquihire?

Who knows, you might be right and some developers might be able to think of an idea, build it, and market it successfully enough to get the acquihire they want (along with a big paycheck), but I suspect most just want to build a product _someone_ finds useful.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#25

Post by meta » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:26 PM UTC

justauser wrote: post #16

jmduke wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. 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 re…

Maybe it is to the point now where it is disingenuous for a company NOT to have a banner on every page stating if they are open to investments or acquihire? At least users would know there is an intention/desire/dream to head for greener pastures if given the chance. It is quite alright to disclose as a small business owner that things are slow or somethings are not quite going to plan. If you've got a userbase that…

I think almost every company would have to have such a banner. Everyone has a price. Even Marco ("and they didn’t want to pay enough"). Some prices are higher than 'the market' wants to pay right now but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#26

Post by vtry » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:29 PM UTC

arrowgunz wrote: post #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?

100 million dollars!

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#27

Post by tptacek » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:31 PM UTC

jazzychad wrote: post #9

Well, 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) hav…

I didn't get that from Marco's post at all. I heard a developer saying "stop blaming indie developers for accepting generous offers from companies and start supporting their products instead".

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#28

Post by aggronn » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:32 PM UTC

leftnode wrote: post #24

jmduke wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. 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 re…

Is this something you can really plan out from the beginning? How many millions of developers would love to be able to create a product that drives enough attention to ensure an acquihire? Who knows, you might be right and some developers might be able to think of an idea, build it, and market it successfully enough to get the acquihire they want (along with a big paycheck), but I suspect most just want to build a pr…

if there were developers who were good enough to have any confidence that they would be acquired for their talent, i suspect they wouldn't need to work for google to make their money.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#29

Post by smackfu » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:35 PM UTC

tb303 wrote: post #12

So now that I've paid for instapaper for iPhone and iPad, I don't have to give Marco any more money. That means the only way he stays in business as the product grows (being that I am not a revenue source anymore) is by either a) figuring out an additional revenue stream from the data or b) discontinuing the apps I paid for and charging me for new ones. The same goes for sparrow. These one-time purchase apps don't ha…

So what's the takeaway for us as users? Should we prefer free apps with IAP or advertising because that's a more sustainable business model?

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#30

Post by Firehed » Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 8:38 PM UTC

leftnode wrote: post #24

jmduke wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. 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 re…

Is this something you can really plan out from the beginning? How many millions of developers would love to be able to create a product that drives enough attention to ensure an acquihire? Who knows, you might be right and some developers might be able to think of an idea, build it, and market it successfully enough to get the acquihire they want (along with a big paycheck), but I suspect most just want to build a pr…

I know quite a few developers who only work on stuff that they hope will result in an acquihire. Can they guarantee it? Of course not, but I feel it's a pretty selfish approach to building something that's not just for your own use.

For example, in today's "the new digg" feedback survey, I told them I will not use the service until they have a sustainable revenue model (they happily tout their current lack of one), for this reason - the last thing I need is yet another service I like to be bought and then shut down. Granted, I don't believe they're starting out with the goal of being acquired, but this whole "useful stuff goes away because the people building it have no business sense" is pretty annoying to deal with.