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Re: undefined

#21

Post by nickb » Fri, Jul 06, 2007, 4:35 AM UTC

especkman wrote: post #9

staunch wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...why purely engineer-driven start-ups fail: no business sense. I'm not sure how you managed to draw that conclusion. His bonus point is that the CTO didn't even do work, that's hardly engineer-driven. And they had a Stanford MBA, who was apparently a drain during product development. Most successful technology startups are engineer-driven. Google is the ultimate example of just how far a couple engineers can go wit…

Who was it at Google who had the sense to clone Overture's business model, I wonder.

It was Omid. He put his job on the line and the company when he bet on AdWords.

http://www.google.com/corporate/execs.html#omid

Re: undefined

#22

Post by paul » Fri, Jul 06, 2007, 7:17 AM UTC

far33d wrote: post #18

paul wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope. Also, it's not a clone in any meaningful sense.

AdWords was invented by Eric Veach, formerly of Pixar, wasn't it?

What does it mean to invent a product? Adwords is just a name. The actual system was built and rebuilt and improved many times. Eric did do a lot to make it a success though -- he's part of the reason why Google makes so much more money than Yahoo.

Re: undefined

#23

Post by ericwan » Fri, Jul 06, 2007, 9:03 AM UTC

thetest wrote: post #20

jmtame wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, small world huh? ;)

Someone with the initials of a city 45 minutes north of palo alto?

wow another guy making the same guess! The world is small indeed. =)

Re: undefined

#24

Post by jmtame » Fri, Jul 06, 2007, 5:45 PM UTC

ericwan wrote: post #23

thetest wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone with the initials of a city 45 minutes north of palo alto?

wow another guy making the same guess! The world is small indeed. =)

Pretty interesting, although I'm not allowed to comment on the specific details.

Re: undefined

#25

Post by far33d » Fri, Jul 06, 2007, 7:50 PM UTC

paul wrote: post #22

far33d wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AdWords was invented by Eric Veach, formerly of Pixar, wasn't it?

What does it mean to invent a product? Adwords is just a name. The actual system was built and rebuilt and improved many times. Eric did do a lot to make it a success though -- he's part of the reason why Google makes so much more money than Yahoo.

I guess I was saying invent as in "came up with the thing that differentiates it from everything else out there" - in this case, the auction system.

Re: undefined

#26

Post by jmtame » Wed, Jul 11, 2007, 2:48 AM UTC

I added a footnote to this article, because I think some people have become misguided by the purpose of the article.

I'll include it for reference:

Important note: In an earlier version, I made reference to a venture firm, and I think some people were under the impression that the venture firm was at fault. On the contrary, the venture firm I was at in this startup was extremely helpful, hospitable, and encouraging, as were all investors involved in the project. I didnt create this article as a way to point fingers at anyone, and if you take anything away from this, please just see it as helpful advice given freely.