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My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

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Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#231

Post by logicallee »

BrandonM wrote: post #226
madaxe_again wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kinda failing to see the failure here. Yes, the business failed, but this reads like a fairy tale. Support from family and friends, investor backing, media coverage - all while failing to make a dime. Try running a successful and rapidly growing business for 8 years while everyone around you tells you you're a crazy fucking idiot and that you should give up and get a job. No investor interest as we make money, wh…

While I feel for your situation, I had to downvote you because your comment smacked of No True Scotsman and attention hogging. Sorry. A startup folded and left several people with nothing to show for years of effort. It seems pretty callous to me to assert that she didn't fail, when several measures say she did, and she feels like she did. I'm glad she shared her story. Do you think your comment encourages others to…

I read your parent comment with a large level of irony (i.e. not literally). Your parent is bitter that actually building a successful business - by the metrics you just cited, as your parent claims to be doing -- feels/reads/is lived like total failure compared to the feeling of reading a "faery tale" of running a business into the ground while getting incredible levels of support that were "unearned" (if I try to put myself in your parent commmenter's shoes) because the business wasn't actually profitable.

Your parent commenter is bitter about the fact that a total lack of viability - making money - gets support, while he has to bootstrap in the face of derision.

madaxe_again: I recommend you get off of HN if you are interested in building a real business. This is a community for building things that investors here would be interested in. If it's not a problem that a rich man with nothing to do all day but look at Internet metrics can see as something to solve, then building a business is not going to get any support from this specific community.

You should forget about investors. When has an investor ever backed anything that they couldn't have related to within 15 seconds of hearing a pitch for it? But investors don't represent the people of the world.

If you want investment, play with investors. They'll give you $200,000 to stop making money and make a messaging app. If you launch one before you talk with them they'll raise that to $600,000.

It is what it is. (Don't read my comment bitterly. I love this ecosystem.)

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#232

Post by madaxe_again »

BrandonM wrote: post #226
madaxe_again wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kinda failing to see the failure here. Yes, the business failed, but this reads like a fairy tale. Support from family and friends, investor backing, media coverage - all while failing to make a dime. Try running a successful and rapidly growing business for 8 years while everyone around you tells you you're a crazy fucking idiot and that you should give up and get a job. No investor interest as we make money, wh…

While I feel for your situation, I had to downvote you because your comment smacked of No True Scotsman and attention hogging. Sorry. A startup folded and left several people with nothing to show for years of effort. It seems pretty callous to me to assert that she didn't fail, when several measures say she did, and she feels like she did. I'm glad she shared her story. Do you think your comment encourages others to…

No need to apologise, it's what the downvote button is for :)

My comment wasn't intended to be callous - rather to reflect the fact that success and failure aren't as absolute as "the business failed". She is a success, insofar as she has a great support network, a laudable track record, and a press that wants her to speak her piece. The business going to pot means that it failed in its principal objective - but doesn't mean that it failed as a vehicle for those involved. I suppose what I'm saying is the business failed, she didn't.

I am a failure, in the same light, yet my business functions and grows like a weed. It is not a vehicle for me, however. The business is a success, but every day feels like a failure, as I had not intended to still be doing this eight years down the line.

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#233

Post by madaxe_again »

logicallee wrote: post #231
BrandonM wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I feel for your situation, I had to downvote you because your comment smacked of No True Scotsman and attention hogging. Sorry. A startup folded and left several people with nothing to show for years of effort. It seems pretty callous to me to assert that she didn't fail, when several measures say she did, and she feels like she did. I'm glad she shared her story. Do you think your comment encourages others to…

I read your parent comment with a large level of irony (i.e. not literally). Your parent is bitter that actually building a successful business - by the metrics you just cited, as your parent claims to be doing -- feels/reads/is lived like total failure compared to the feeling of reading a "faery tale" of running a business into the ground while getting incredible levels of support that were "unearned" (if I try to p…

Yup - nail on head. Not bootstrapping any more, we did that bit years ago, but I didn't still want to be here, doing this, eight years down the line - hence this is a failure. A moving, growing, functioning, successful failure.

We don't want investors, actually - we don't need 'em. We do, however, want to sell this thing one day, as you can only stare at the sun for so long before going blind. Until then, however, it's fail all the way.

And yes, I'm bitter. Amazingly so. Largely with my own naïvety. But the mask is strong.

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#234

Post by zeeshanm »

M$ was founded in mid 70s and had not made a dent until the 80s. More so their killer product was launched in the 90s that put them as the definitive leader on the map. In a way, it took roughly 20 years for M$ "to take over the world." Not to mention Gates and Allen started off writing software for traffic systems and I don't recall that was a huge hit. “Innovation” does happen relatively faster these days. But it's really hard to do one-to-one comparison of companies that are mega successful (aka they make a lot of money) and those that relatively bring in lesser revenue. Besides this I believe one really has to derive the meaning of success on her own. I would not consider you a failure by any means as you gave your best to the startup. There is so much you can take away from this experience. For example, you can write a book about your experiences as you have got a good talent for writing. You can travel around and give motivational speeches at colleges and networking events. You have got a good story to tell and I bet many of us out there would be interested in hearing about it. Don't worry too much that you could not save up. I don't think this is any way puts you behind anyone your age. I bet most kids your age have spent lots on crack, booze, food, superfluous relationships, etc. Whereas you have built a pretty good reputation that really can take you far.

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#235

Post by logicallee »

madaxe_again wrote: post #233
logicallee wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read your parent comment with a large level of irony (i.e. not literally). Your parent is bitter that actually building a successful business - by the metrics you just cited, as your parent claims to be doing -- feels/reads/is lived like total failure compared to the feeling of reading a "faery tale" of running a business into the ground while getting incredible levels of support that were "unearned" (if I try to p…

Yup - nail on head. Not bootstrapping any more, we did that bit years ago, but I didn't still want to be here, doing this, eight years down the line - hence this is a failure. A moving, growing, functioning, successful failure. We don't want investors, actually - we don't need 'em. We do, however, want to sell this thing one day, as you can only stare at the sun for so long before going blind. Until then, however, it…

(EDIT: I'm not a journalist). If you have an email I would love to talk to you [EDIT:] as a fellow founder. There is a much wider ecosystem in private equity than just HN-style startup investors. The 100 VC's you'll hear about here represent a tiny sliver of a fraction of private equity. I don't know much about the whole market, but I'll tell you what I do know about it and exchange thoughts.

-

[EDIT:] I wrote this comment first, but following the journalist's response also asking for your email am adding these edits.

1. I would consider giving the journalist your email as well (or email him) as having a story written about you can't hurt -- maybe someone will read about your metrics there and want to invest. You explicitly complain about this in "Support from family and friends, investor backing, media coverage". Now, here's your chance. The journalist has a profile reading "Columnist @ Slate. Contributor @ Priceonomics. Co-host of the Stratechery Podcast (stratechery.fm) with Ben Thompson (currently on hold; please stay tuned)."

2. On the other hand you may be wanting to keep a clear separation from this online identity, which I would respect but the journalist would have to prove through showing you other stories they have written that don't divulge the source.

You can give me a pseudonymous email, it's fine.

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#237

Post by jonnathanson »

madaxe_again wrote: post #233
logicallee wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read your parent comment with a large level of irony (i.e. not literally). Your parent is bitter that actually building a successful business - by the metrics you just cited, as your parent claims to be doing -- feels/reads/is lived like total failure compared to the feeling of reading a "faery tale" of running a business into the ground while getting incredible levels of support that were "unearned" (if I try to p…

Yup - nail on head. Not bootstrapping any more, we did that bit years ago, but I didn't still want to be here, doing this, eight years down the line - hence this is a failure. A moving, growing, functioning, successful failure. We don't want investors, actually - we don't need 'em. We do, however, want to sell this thing one day, as you can only stare at the sun for so long before going blind. Until then, however, it…

Would also love your email. I think your story sounds fascinating, and while I don't know the particulars, I'd love to talk to you about them in greater depth.

My contact info is in my profile. Hit me up if you're ever interested in having a conversation with a writer who is inclined to be sympathetic to your dilemma. Not sure if you're media-averse at this point or not, but I'd love to explore your story for my column.

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#238

Post by ulisesrmzroche »

mindcrime wrote: post #107
gclaramunt wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Strange, I just turned 40 and I feel better prepared than ever :)

Yeah, that's kinda the "catch 22" of it all. I'm definitely more prepared now, for sure. But my feeling is, if this startup fails, by the time it fails (and I won't give up until I'm verging on death anyway), I don't expect to be able to muster up enough mojo to pour this kind of energy into another shot. Whether it's emotionally, mentally, spiritually or physically, I think I'll be spent once this is over. Now maybe…

You're putting a lot of energy because you're learning on the job. Nothing else. If you knew what you were doing, it'd be much easier, of course.

Re: My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

#240

Post by outworlder »

dreamweapon wrote: post #236

I just knew I wanted to solve a problem I personally experienced: having a closet full of clothes but still nothing to wear. Maybe her real problem was picking a big "problem" to solve that wasn't.

A problem is a problem if enough people think it is. There seems to be a large amount of people who agree with her.
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