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

Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

geekwire.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 135 posts

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#41

Post by brlewis »

whoisjuan wrote: post #24
tostitos1979 wrote: post #8

I'm surprised this isn't at the top of the frontpage. This is big vindication of all hardware startups. Will VCs go big in this category after this series of exits?

I don't think this validates this space at all. If your only exit strategy is to get acquired by a big 5 you're already in trouble. Hardware is pretty freaking hard. Just look at recent examples of public hardware companies: FitBit / GoPro. Both doing like crap, struggling to maintain their grab on the market and looking for acquirers. Honestly, I think this is a very unattractive sector, at least in this side of the…

Business is hard, whether it's hardware or software. I think a lot of software-based companies wish they were "doing like crap" the way Fitbit is -- navigating through a couple years of unprofitability using a large pile of cash gained through years of profit.

Disclaimer: I work for Fitbit but speak only for myself.

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#44

Post by xkjkls »

JoblessWonder wrote: post #36
SmellTheGlove wrote: post #13

Amazon now has Blink and Ring. I wonder how soon "You're out of paper towels" and "Your paper towels are on the porch" will come about? Bonus points for "the neighbor kid just stole your package" alert.

They have the ability to unlock your front door, so "your paper towels were replaced on your holder" is a legit option.

When am I just going to have a person come to wipe my butt?

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#45

Post by xkjkls »

tostitos1979 wrote: post #8

I'm surprised this isn't at the top of the frontpage. This is big vindication of all hardware startups. Will VCs go big in this category after this series of exits?

How much capital went into it though?

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ring#section-locked-...

Looking at that it looks like at least $200 million in funding was raised. The kinds of exits for software companies that have raised over $200 million generally look very different.

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#46

Post by sk5t »

jbob2000 wrote: post #26
marlonbarz wrote: post #10

Ring was on the TV Show Shark Tank, and all the sharks passed on the deal. It was $700K for 10% of the company. And now it sold for more than 1 billion $.

You have the wrong idea about the show. It exists to promote the shark's own businesses and products under the guise of a contest reality show. To keep up the facade, they allow other companies to put their products up for a price, and intersperse a couple of silly products to keep people watching. It's just dressed up advertising, it's not about investing or business by any flip of the coin.

If that's true, it might not be very effective. Having seen the show a fair few times, I have only the vaguest idea of what the Sharks' interests are, other than FUBU--basketball owner? something to do with QVC?

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#48

Post by ronaru »

Slansitartop wrote: post #21

Crap. I guess I won't be buying one then. Amazon also just gobbled up the maker of my home security cameras (Blink). I really would prefer my home monitoring devices to be separate from the giant tech companies that I'm trusting less and less.

the main reason I bought Ring (avoided upcoming nest hello), now I am SOL. Should look closer at their privacy agreements. With Amazon a the helm, they can mine data much more effectively.

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#49

Post by blackrock »

What is Amazon's angle here?

To get a video and photo ID of every person, living at an address? Then they will run this through a face recognition deep learning AI, to get a digital facial ID of everyone.

Now, they just one-upped Facebook. Where they know who lives where, and what type of person they are. Male, female, young, old, skinny, fat, short, tall, ethnicity, clothing style preferences, music preferences, healthy or sick.

Now, you don't even need to fill out those advertising questionnaires on who you are. Amazon will just collect it automatically from this Ring doorbell camera.

Now, they have a definitive demographic information on you, for targeted advertising. They can either email you, or snail mail you. Since now, they know exactly who you are. As well as who else lives with you.

And when you sign onto Amazon, the ads will be targeted directly at you.

1. Hey, it looks like you have a daughter at home. Do you want to buy her a nice little necklace for Christmas? We have a nice selection on sale here.

2. Or if you are black. Hey, if you spend $20 on Amazon today, we can get you free movie tickets to see the new Black Panther movie.

3. Or if you are Asian. Hey, there is a new Chinese restaurant opening up in your area. Spend $50 on Amazon today, and we can get you a free lunch special.

Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring

#50

Post by [deleted] »

sharkweek wrote: post #18
marlonbarz wrote: post #10

Ring was on the TV Show Shark Tank, and all the sharks passed on the deal. It was $700K for 10% of the company. And now it sold for more than 1 billion $.

There was just another example of this - A company called Plated, Cuban agreed to invest during the show then backed out during due diligence. I guess Mr. Wonderful found out and called them up to invest later. Plated just got sold to Albertsons for 300m, and O’Leary claims to have made 1300%+ return on his investment. Poor Mark. I love the show, I don’t think any of the sharks are “dumb money,” but I don’t think it’…

[deleted]
Post reply on HN