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My Startup Failed. Fuck.

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Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#51

Post by jfarmer »

seivan wrote: post #47
anigbrowl wrote: post #44

Ouch. One thing that leaped out at me was your mention that the first beta was a disaster because it didn't comply with Amazon's payment-processor requirements, so you burned a lot of capital making good on your promises. This sort of thing is why I keep saying more startups need a legal person on board early on - and with a surplus of underemployed JDs around, now is a great time to work that into your team plan. La…

Would they work for equity? Sorry I couldn't help myself :) /developer.

Often, yes, if you have a good relationship with a well-established firm or have someone who does vouch for you. Most top tech law firms (WSGR, Orrick, Fenwick & West, Gunderson Dettmer, etc.) will defer payment or even waive certain fees for early-stage startups in exchange for a small amount of equity.

Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#52

Post by dpolaske »

dasil003 wrote: post #22
tptacek wrote: post #16

Even the people at the very top of the value chain in the music industry --- the vanishingly small set of people who produce commercially viable music --- can't make the business work. So I'm curious as to why you'd have tried to start a company in music. Did you start before Dalton Caldwell's talk? I'm just interested in how people pick the ideas they pursue.

I got the feeling there were in college or fresh out of college when they started this. Probably they were just doing what they had an interest in and thought they knew something about.

Exactly the situation.

Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#53

Post by eah13 »

I love the honesty and the spot on diagnosis.

For a site that resonates with artists, check out Reverb Nation:

http://www.reverbnation.com/

A sample artist page here:

http://www.reverbnation.com/evangibb

Instead of buying their music, the site is focused on you listening to it via the embedded player and then going to see them live. You can even buy them a gift card so that they can buy advertising. They're growing like crazy with a marketing budget close to zero.

Thanks for sharing your hard learned lesson. It reminds us all to get out of the building and talk to users.

Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#55

Post by flaktrak »

Good post and you had me all the way up until you said "journey". I hate that word. Pre-internet Journey meant something now every man and his cat uses it to talk about the incites they had while doing something, it has lost its impact. However like I said I enjoyed the post until then.

Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#56

Post by anigbrowl »

seivan wrote: post #47
anigbrowl wrote: post #44

Ouch. One thing that leaped out at me was your mention that the first beta was a disaster because it didn't comply with Amazon's payment-processor requirements, so you burned a lot of capital making good on your promises. This sort of thing is why I keep saying more startups need a legal person on board early on - and with a surplus of underemployed JDs around, now is a great time to work that into your team plan. La…

Would they work for equity? Sorry I couldn't help myself :) /developer.

Some would. I know quite a few lawyers in startups. That's why I mentioned 'underemployed JDs' who have an incentive to explore other avenues if they can't get a job at an established law firm or public body. You might not be aware that there's a major supply-demand imbalance in the legal field right now.

Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#59

Post by tiredofcareer »

dpolaske wrote: post #54
fuddle wrote: post #50

"Zillionears | Sell your $h!t with Social Sales!" - Sorry but as soon as I seen your landing page title, I was put off.

Understandable, most Christian musicians where not excited about our slogan.

Well, that's a comment that betrays a lot about you and, potentially, why your startup failed.

Re: My Startup Failed. Fuck.

#60

Post by at-fates-hands »

Music is probably one of the hardest, if not the hardest industries to be successful in. Props to them for continuing to press on, hoping for a break and smart enough to throw in the towel and move on.

Also, happy to hear you didn't mortgage your life savings and burn out in grand fashion. You're wise beyond your years.

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