Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

My startup failed, and this is what it feels like

medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

241–250 of 273 posts

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

#241

Post by MrGando »

Hey there Nikki,

Nice story, I have a similar one myself. I remember that I followed 99dresses quite closely two years ago, I was the technical co-founder of a Fashion & Tech startup, and we were trying to do something really similar for a while. (I'm also foreign, got a lot of local press coverage, traveled to Silicon Valley to work etc.)

I've been the leaving co-founder of a startup, mostly because I thought (and told) that my co-founder was incompetent and bringing zero value to the table. He took it pretty bad, but at least I was honest about that (and right).

You're very young, I'm 28... my biggest advice would be for you to get a stronger technical background. You can still do it, you are young, and it would greatly empower you.

If you wanna have a chat shoot me an email or add me on skype 'n_goles'.

Cheers!

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

#242

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

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

#243

Post by mindcrime »

ulisesrmzroche wrote: post #238
mindcrime wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That's a fair point. All I'm getting at though, is that there's a lot to be said for taking a swing or two when you're younger and have more time for "second chances" if you fail. At my age, if I fail, I don't see starting all over again as being in the cards.

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

#244

Post by justathrow2k »

justathrow2k wrote: post #177
nikkidurkin wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just telling it like it is. I could have lied, but how does that help anyone? I'm a firm believer that with gender issues you can either whine about it, or you can find the positives in it. If your whole startup depended on you getting a visa approved, you'd use anything at your disposal to get the job done. If that meant fake crying, then so be it. It worked.

Good old manipulation, making the world go round.

Downvotes? Sheesh, calling a spade a spade, folks. I don't think the OP would even disagree that it was manipulation.

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

#245

Post by jenius »

tomhoward wrote: post #161
jenius wrote: post #53

> “I just knew I wanted to solve a problem I personally experienced: having a closet full of clothes but still nothing to wear.” These are the kinds problems we are gunning for. These are the kinds of things investors are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into. This is the scope of problem our industry is solving right now. This is why I'm often embarrassed to work in tech.

Embarrassed to work in an industry that can welcome and support founders solving problems as profound as enery/cleantech, health, transportation and food, but also diverse enough to address real frustrations and economic problems faced by women? Like everything else in life, nobody is forcing you to buy the product or join/invest in the company. But to sneer at its right to exist is both short-sighted and mean.

Let's again recap the "problem" this is "solving":

> "I have so many clothes but I still don't like any of them, ugh"

You honestly think this is addressing real frustrations and economic problems faced by women? You honestly think this has value because it adds to the "diversity" of our industry? You honestly think this is a problem worth big investment dollars, and multiple people spending years of their lives on?

I see startups pouring millions of dollars and many brilliant minds into solving first world problems so frequently, and I honestly try to cut them as much slack as I can. Maybe uber is a huge first world problem, but at least they are creating jobs for people that need them. Maybe airbnb is a first world problem, but at least they are connecting people and communities in a meaningful way, and spend a lot of time encouraging and highlighting stories about this.

I don't just go around being an asshole to any startup that isn't aiming to eliminate world hunger. But this particular description of the problem is so entitled and self-indulgent that it just makes me furious. Even you saying this is valid because it "addresses frustrations and economic problems faced by women" is absurd. I'm pretty sure 99% of women in the world would be overjoyed if they suddenly faced the problem of "having too many clothes and not knowing what to wear".

I think saying that I sneer at its right to exist would be an understatement. It actually makes me furious that people are dedicating their careers and pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into solving "problems" like this. If that makes me mean, so be it, at least my view of the world extends at least a tiny bit outside the absolutely ridiculous first world bubble that this could only be accepted inside of.

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

#246

Post by nostrademons »

_pmf_ wrote: post #196
GuiA wrote: post #47

I met Nikki while I lived at a Hacker House in Mountain View for a few weeks in January 2012, having recently moved to the Bay Area. I remember being impressed at the time by her intensity, and by the fact that she actually had a real product with real users that solved a real problem. An audible "oh no" came out of my lips when I clicked this link and realized I was reading about someone I had shared a few dinners w…

> "... but it's important to remember that it's all just a game. What's most important is that we are good too each other, and ourselves." These things are easy to say for a very rich guy.

Is there anything he could say that wouldn't invite the ad hominem? I'm trying to imagine him saying "Yup, money is pretty damn important" and I suspect the response would be exactly the same. It seems like the only thing you can do if you're wealthy is keep silent.

FWIW, I'm hardly very rich and I've believed that since I got out of college. Mostly because those who believe success in business is just a game and don't get emotionally attached to the rewards tend to do a lot better in business than those who must get rich quick.

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

#247

Post by barce »

jakejake wrote: post #42
nikkidurkin wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey Andrew, I actually glossed over that out of respect for the 2 guys. My purpose was not to bitch about them, and many people who will read this post in my network will know who I'm talking about. There were mistakes made on both sides, but in the end I bent over backwards to accomodate them and as soon as YC was over and they could say they were YC founders they bailed. I'm not saying its entirely their fault - I…

I think it's great that you take the high road and don't resort to dragging other people through the mud. You definitely seem to place the responsibility all on yourself, which I imagine is not always the full truth. Not providing any reason at all, actually makes it sound as if the two co-founders just randomly and completely bailed on you. (Which may be exactly the truth) I was trying to imagine a logical scenario,…

Well, if you Google around, you get Peter Delahunty. It looks like he's gone from being a CTO at a few places (including 99dresses) to just working under a CTO. It looks like his strategy didn't pay off.

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

#249

Post by scott_karana »

chong7 wrote: post #104
AndrewWarner wrote: post #67

Nikki, I just sent you a request for an interview on Mixergy. This is a courageous post.

is this a joke ? why are you telling others ?

Nikki made it very clear that she felt talking about failed startups is valuable, and even suggested a curated collection. Mixergy would bring a nice big spotlight where she asked for it.

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

#250

Post by [deleted] »

_pmf_ wrote: post #196
GuiA wrote: post #47

I met Nikki while I lived at a Hacker House in Mountain View for a few weeks in January 2012, having recently moved to the Bay Area. I remember being impressed at the time by her intensity, and by the fact that she actually had a real product with real users that solved a real problem. An audible "oh no" came out of my lips when I clicked this link and realized I was reading about someone I had shared a few dinners w…

> "... but it's important to remember that it's all just a game. What's most important is that we are good too each other, and ourselves." These things are easy to say for a very rich guy.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN