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Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

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Re: Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

#41

Post by hipadev23 »

duxup wrote: post #40
jborden13 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a steel bike, grabbed my hammock, and went on a 4 day 250 mile solo adventure through the Texas hill country. Riding through empty valleys at sunset with a herd of deer pacing alongisde me was enough to break me into tears. It's what I needed to move on.

It is interesting how many stories in a way involve running or moving away from the lifestyle that ... bought them a new lifestyle.

Well, you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he's broke, don't do shit.

Re: Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

#42

Post by Klonoar »

samiv wrote: post #38
duxup wrote: post #7

Congratulations. I'm curious... what do people do after something like this? Vacation?

Just because the company was sold for a bunch of money doesn't mean the people (yes even the founders) got a huge payout. Liquidation preference and other schemes can make sure that when the investors get their money there's nothing to left to share between other share holders including the founders. (Not saying that this is the case here, just pointing that out) EDIT: As some are already pointing out, yes the title…

This particular OP notes they were bootstrapped. That term might mean any number of things here, but I would imagine they had less exposure to losing out.

Or at least, I hope they did. What a fantastic win for them.

Re: Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

#44

Post by fourseventy »

samiv wrote: post #38
duxup wrote: post #7

Congratulations. I'm curious... what do people do after something like this? Vacation?

Just because the company was sold for a bunch of money doesn't mean the people (yes even the founders) got a huge payout. Liquidation preference and other schemes can make sure that when the investors get their money there's nothing to left to share between other share holders including the founders. (Not saying that this is the case here, just pointing that out) EDIT: As some are already pointing out, yes the title…

The title of this post literally says "bootstrapped"

Re: Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

#45

Post by criddell »

klik99 wrote: post #27
duxup wrote: post #7

Congratulations. I'm curious... what do people do after something like this? Vacation?

I met someone who was an early employee at King about a year after they were acquired for 5.9b - it’s a little different since he wasn’t involved with the sale, but he was still processing the insane amount of money he had. A year on he hadn’t moved out of his small apartment, still contracted, still used the same cheap phone, and hadn’t started investing beyond just the normal mutual funds/bonds/etc. it struck me as…

> I find it’s really interesting how people act when the financial pressure gets suddenly removed.

It seems so strange to me to hear stories about people suddenly coming into a bunch of money and not finding contentment or even ending up depressed. If I could afford to retire today, I would do it in a heartbeat and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't run out of things I want to do.

When the lotto gets to be above $1 billion, I'll usually buy a ticket because it's fun to imagine the life I could have with that money. Lots of it would be spent on hiring experts to teach me things.

Re: Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

#48

Post by sebmellen »

hipadev23 wrote: post #41
duxup wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is interesting how many stories in a way involve running or moving away from the lifestyle that ... bought them a new lifestyle.

Well, you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he's broke, don't do shit.

There is a luxury class at both ends of the economic spectrum, as Veblen observed.

Re: Thank HN: My bootstrapped startup got acquired today

#49

Post by jborden13 »

duxup wrote: post #40
jborden13 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a steel bike, grabbed my hammock, and went on a 4 day 250 mile solo adventure through the Texas hill country. Riding through empty valleys at sunset with a herd of deer pacing alongisde me was enough to break me into tears. It's what I needed to move on.

It is interesting how many stories in a way involve running or moving away from the lifestyle that ... bought them a new lifestyle.

When something consumes you so rabidly and ferociously for so long, and then is just gone (poof), it leaves you searching. Searching for recovery and meaning.

It's 4 years later, and I'm still searching...

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