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

TechStars, Lies & Videotape

melanie.io

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 103 posts

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#51

Post by seven_stones »

melanie_io wrote: post #28
snprbob86 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know the exact details, but you'll notice that there are only 6 companies being profiled in the show. Ten companies went through the NY program in that cycle. My understanding is that each team was given the option of participating in the show, along with appropriate caveats. I doubt anyone from TechStars pressured them to participate, although the folks from BloombergTV may have. In theory, TechStars founder…

Every company was required to participate: the choice was (1) do the show or (2) drop out of TechStars. Bloomberg followed all 11 (not 10) companies throughout the entire program, but focused only on 6 companies because it was impossible to follow 11 different story lines in 6, 22-minute episodes.

TechStars forced its startups to do a faux reality TV series that amounted to a kind of smear campaign?

This is going to have serious blowback.

Yet another example of suicide being a startup's or related program's worst enemy, not competition!

So while TS is busy shooting itself in the foot, YC has continued at their own place and gradually fixed most of their shortcomings.

One of the problems was doing half the year in Boston; a nice favor for Boston, but a disadvantage to the startups. "Fetch isn't going to happen." Or Boston, in this case.

That one was fixed by accident, but it got fixed.

The biggest problem was probably the miniscule amount of funding, which meant you ran out of money right when you were hitting your stride. You were faced with having to sweat out trying to get follow-on investment during the time period when you were supposed to NOT be distracted, working on your demo.

But now the $150k convertible loan has taken care of that part. (Also due to external conditions.)

* NOTE: This account has been killed by admins, this post will not appear to users who aren't logged in.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#52

Post by deepkut »

reecepacheco wrote: post #37

disclaimer: techstars founder here... while the finished product that Bloomberg aired is not the most amazing piece of journalism i've ever seen, i don't think TechStars is to blame for that. the TechStars ethos is to be open and encourage entrepreneurship. to this end, TechStars asked us if we were ok with putting ourselves out there to the world and we all agreed to it before the program started. at the end of the…

So, you believe the ends justify the means, and I couldn't disagree more. TS is respectable, but this show is a bastardization and misrepresentation of startups and more importantly, those behind them. However, this comes at no surprise... 'Reality shows' tend to screw everyone's perception of true 'reality.' Ironic.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#53

Post by dpe82 »

melanie_io wrote: post #49
dpe82 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We've been working hard on our application to TS Cloud and this story gave me reason to pause. When the series started I was super excited - I hoped it would be a real look into the program we hope to go through. After the second episode it became obvious it was all about the drama. I watched the rest of the series, but by the end I was pretty confused by the whole thing. Shame on Bloomberg.

Please do not let the show color your opinion of TechStars. I would do the program over in a heartbeat, and made lifelong friends and mentors along the way. Tisch / Cohen / Feld and the entire organization is fantastic.

I'm not. Friends and advisors who have gone through it or are otherwise related to the program have very highly recommended it so we're still full speed ahead on the application.

Incidentally, our company is working in technology around video editing. :-p

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#54

Post by joshfraser »

As a TechStars alum, I can say that this show painted a very distorted view of the real TechStars program. The drama was fabricated by Bloomberg because that's what makes good TV. Don't let this show ruin your view of TechStars. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up regretting doing this show, but of course, hindsight is 20/20. It would have been hard for me to turn down that amount of national exposure too.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#55

Post by protomyth »

curiouskat wrote: post #50
brc wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's probably bottom-up driven rather than top-down. The sports players see the trappings of notoriety (endorsements, media profiles, etc) which can mean, in some cases, bigger earnings than actually winning in the sport. Being merely good enough and having a big public persona can bring very good rewards. It's all part of the current celebrity mania that has engulfed society. All you need is a hook to get into gossi…

I'm referring more to the marquee players whom are in position to control the outcome of a game. Presumably directives would come from the owner and the deals would be made between individual teams and/or the league. For example, owners might trade wins/losses now to help a storyline in exchange for markers for future wins when they're on a championship track.

Since betting takes place in the US on major sports, the gov will be very, very involved if a team takes a dive for the good of a story.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#56

Post by d0mine »

mixmax wrote: post #18

Well, that's showbusiness for you. I have friends in media and showbusiness, so I've seen these things from behind the scenes, and have a good feel for the dynamics. Media is about getting customers just like any other company, and their product is stories. They try to make these stories as appealing as possible, just like any other company tries to make the product their customers want.Truth plays second fiddle to a…

I believed they were asking me because they were looking out for me. from the article

> Oftentimes we think the media is engaged in a search for truth, justice and a real portrayal of how things work

I'm astonished that there are people who can think that at any age. Kids are either too young even to understand the concepts involved or too old to believe in Santa Claus. It might be culture-dependent.

Maybe I'm too naive in believing that somebody can sincerely write about the presumed right way good media should work.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#57

Post by melanie_io »

joshfraser wrote: post #54

As a TechStars alum, I can say that this show painted a very distorted view of the real TechStars program. The drama was fabricated by Bloomberg because that's what makes good TV. Don't let this show ruin your view of TechStars. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up regretting doing this show, but of course, hindsight is 20/20. It would have been hard for me to turn down that amount of national exposure too.

I agree. I think TechStars had nothing but the best of intentions, and they were sold a bill of goods from Bloomberg that the show would be a documentary. I think this is why they were so adamant about each company participating: because they honestly believed the exposure would be good for our companies.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#58

Post by curiouskat »

protomyth wrote: post #55
curiouskat wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm referring more to the marquee players whom are in position to control the outcome of a game. Presumably directives would come from the owner and the deals would be made between individual teams and/or the league. For example, owners might trade wins/losses now to help a storyline in exchange for markers for future wins when they're on a championship track.

Since betting takes place in the US on major sports, the gov will be very, very involved if a team takes a dive for the good of a story.

While it is illegal to fix sporting events for gambling purposes, evidently you can fix sports for entertainment purposes.

The NFL's lawyers stated the NFL competes in the "entertainment marketplace" (http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?renderfor...) and operates as a single entity, not as 32 teams.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#59

Post by apaprocki »

veyron wrote: post #32
wensing wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree they messed up here, but Bloomberg in general is amazing. The terminal is invincible, the news network is the best on television (have you seen their interview with pg or their feature on Elon Musk?), their revenues are insanely great. On what evidence are you basing this "leak info" rumor?

I'm not arguing about bloomberg the terminal. I and many of my other friends in trading have had conversations with really chatty Bloomberg reps who wantonly leak information. In particular one rep mentioned by name that I was a customer when discussing smaller firms using Bloomberg :/

Did you complain? If you're interested, email me (profile).

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#60

Post by protomyth »

curiouskat wrote: post #58
protomyth wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since betting takes place in the US on major sports, the gov will be very, very involved if a team takes a dive for the good of a story.

While it is illegal to fix sporting events for gambling purposes, evidently you can fix sports for entertainment purposes. The NFL's lawyers stated the NFL competes in the "entertainment marketplace" ( http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?renderfor... ) and operates as a single entity, not as 32 teams.

If the NFL fixed a game then their would be issues in Las Vegas and DC because of the betting. beyond that, the damage done to their reputation would end the league.
Post reply on HN