We completely started over, here’s what happened. After shutting down our previous product I was depressed, disillusioned with consumer tech, and definitely had blood in my mouth. I took the huge chip on my shoulder on a mission: for 30 days I would write a post every day, starting with Continue Reading
Posts
Mattermark Wasn’t a Pivot
Measuring Startup & VC Performance – Everyday is Another Chance to Turn It All Around
Today I wrote about some potential methods for benchmarking startup investors, and on a call with a client this afternoon I was asked how I handle the inevitable pushback from investors who aren’t in the top 10 of the list. This the same question I regularly face regarding our approach Continue Reading
Focus
Wow. My last post was in August. I’m proud to say I’m still doing the same thing. As with most of my journals, I don’t usually write much when things are going exceptionally well in my life. For more writing on startups definitely check out the blog on Mattermark and Continue Reading
Embracing the Incrementality Mentality
We’ve all heard that line about the 10 year “overnight” successes. A friend* recently told me a key metric of his company was growing 4% week-over-week. Actually, he related with some dismay that it was only growing at 4%, and he was looking to build another product to make their Continue Reading
First Week Using the Jawbone UP Wristband
I received a Jawbone UP wristband last week as a gift, and it is the first quantified self device I’ve used. Before the UP I would sporadically track my exercise and food with the My Fitness Pal iPhone app, but the UP wristband has taken it to another level with Continue Reading
Why I Hired Andy Sparks
He has a Hipchat room that is filled with GIFs Like this: And this: Or maybe: And my personal favorite:
We never meant to stay here
We never meant to stay here We were here for the gold We got stuck here for the winter Blinded by golden dollar signs We built some simple structures Temporary, not permanent But each year we dug much deeper And each year things got more serious Each year our hearts Continue Reading
We aren’t caught up in your love affair
Dave McClure is Raising $10M for Asia-Focused 500 Durians LP
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed out loud reading SEC filings until today, when I saw a filing from 500 Durians. What’s Dave up to now, naming a fund after a smelly fruit? The filings confirmed my suspicions, yes this is another fund run by 500 Startups founder Dave McClure, Continue Reading
Sulia Now Driving 6-Digit Traffic to Publishers, on Track to Hit 15-20 Million Uniques This Year
Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, cat photos and rants from angry aunts appear in the same feeds as shared recipes and world news. Sulia is changing that by introducing subject-based “channels†where users can consume media about a single topic like technology, politics, or food. Moving away from a Continue Reading