Apple event overshadows unflattering news at Snapchat, Tinder • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple event overshadows unflattering news at Snapchat, Tinder

#111

Post by kelnos » Thu, Sep 11, 2014, 1:13 PM UTC

discardorama wrote: post #98

srj wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably you have your PhD now? Why not sue today?

I thought about it after I graduated. The problem is: in the initial years, people ask for recommendations from your advisor; and as a PhD, you are basically tied to your advisor for life (people will always ask: who was your advisor?). After some thought, I decided to give it a rest and move on. I had learnt a valuable (and very pricey) lesson: always take things in writing.

I think I'd take 20% of $30MM, even including a potentially difficult court battle, over a good rec from a PhD advisor (which, as others have pointed out, is less important than you seem to suggest).

Re: Apple event overshadows unflattering news at Snapchat, Tinder

#112

Post by vladtaltos » Thu, Sep 11, 2014, 4:07 PM UTC

nailer wrote: post #95

vladtaltos wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

read their statement carefully: “We acknowledge Reggie’s contribution to the creation of Snapchat and appreciate his work in getting the application off the ground.” I wouldn't think they'd add a sentence like this to their press release if his only contribution was only an idea.

The founders didn't think he had the technical expertise to make the app so they didn't involve him in that. A legal statement, made to placate a litigant does not change that.

nevertheless, he made them to put that sentence into their settlement. good for him.

Re: Apple event overshadows unflattering news at Snapchat, Tinder

#113

Post by akgerber » Thu, Sep 11, 2014, 4:15 PM UTC

sk5t wrote: post #54

dvdhsu wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Found it copied here: http://www.gravitycomputing.co.nz/joels-totally-fair-method-... """ This is such a common question here and elsewhere that I will attempt to write the world’s most canonical answer to this question. Hopefully in the future when someone on answers.onstartups asks how to split up the ownership of their new company, you can simply point to this answer. The most important principle: Fairness, and th…

Good read, but the IOU plan is nonsensical... cash in one hand, or an IOU for the same amount in the other, issued by an entity with a very high likelihood of failure? What? Maybe if the IOU started accumulating 20% interest.

Secure the IOU with the valuable thing you brought.

Re: Apple event overshadows unflattering news at Snapchat, Tinder

#114

Post by maineldc » Thu, Sep 11, 2014, 5:50 PM UTC

at-fates-hands wrote: post #82

crag wrote: post #63

Money. Greed. It destroys more friendships (and marriages) than anything else. So what's the lesson here? Don't be careless. I don't care what the idea (startup) is - get the details on paper. True, 99% of startups fail, but you don't want to be in that 1% that's making the lawyers rich.

>> Money. Greed. It destroys more friendships (and marriages) than anything else. This a thousand time. My first hard earned rule of thumb? Don't do business with your friends. Lost relationships, bitterness, and great financial loss is never worth it. I got burned really bad and spent the better part of four years trying to get my money back. Since then, it's just something I live by.

I am almost the complete opposite. I only start companies with friends and while there have been some issues, it has served me very well.

I think it partly depends on the definition of friend. I don't start companies with acquaintances, I start them with people that I love and respect.

When you do that, starting a company becomes a really special endeavor.

This is very relevant for me at the moment because I am starting a new company and the person that I am hounding to be the founding CTO is a "newer friend" (we have only known each other for 4 years or so) but I am convinced that we will be a great team.

My advice is to start companies to work with people you love vs. trying to make a bunch of money. It's such a great way to "work" and greed will have a hard time breaking that.

Re: Apple event overshadows unflattering news at Snapchat, Tinder

#115

Post by TaoloModisi » Sun, Sep 14, 2014, 2:44 PM UTC

nl wrote: post #72

k__ wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe he wanted a discussion about, how apple news bury interesting news. Instead of discussion how founders get screwed?

Then post something interesting about it I guess. It's pretty clear it happened. Is there anything else to say about it? (Personally, I think the Tinder thing is more outrageous than the Snapchat thing, and it was a bigger drama when it first surfaced.)

It was smart of them to release bad news at the same time as the apple announcement. Not many have talked about the Tinder Issue and Snapchat’s settlement, as a result.