Slashdot Mirror
Web Hospices?
K-Man asks: "A while ago, I spent a few months at a dying web startup, and, as I looked at the costs of running such an operation, I realized that a tremendous synergy could be achieved by consolidating multiple dying web startups into one umbrella organization. Many functions - bankruptcy filing, creditor evasion, even hiring contractors for fictitious compensation - could be combined under one roof. While the "web incubator" was invented in the 90's, why has no one adopted a similar model for the 00's?"
...there's no pulldown menu on the story, so I can't mark the whole thing as "troll."
Please correct this in the next version of slashcode.
This is a hard-to-believe-it's-serious "question." But, assuming it is a legitimate request for input, I'd say this: the dying web start-ups are the least likely to realize they are dying. The reason they're dying is lost on the managers/owners who are true believers in the business model, regardless how much it's tied to a sock puppet, and believe that this last round of funding will be a success as Warren Buffet finally "gets it" and sinks his wad in the idea. You see, the start up is failing because those directing it lack the foresight and objectivity to realize that it is a failed proposition.
I've seen this up close and personal. A partner company was in a "final round" of financing and could not believe it fell short of funding by the price of a nice car. What it did not realize is that the technology, while excellently engineered, was dated and similar applications developed today could be deployed, maintained, customized, etc., at a fraction of the time and engineering cost of their product. It was painful to watch. But one thing became clear: those in the companies that end up on the frontpage of FC are the only ones surprised.
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
1) I used to work as a clerk in a grocery store, and one thing I noticed is how easy it is to steal pop cans from the fridge. I wonder why no one has adopted that model in the 00's.
2) A friend of mine told me once that he makes pretty good income by stopping strangers in dark places and pulling a knife on them. I wonder how many Slashdotters use similar business model for their income, and why no one adopted it widely.
3) As I mowed lawns for a senior company executive, I got a potentially lucrative idea of kidnapping his twin daughters and request a hefty monetary donation. This seems like a good way to earn money, I wonder why it's not so widespread in 00's.
Or was that not the type of collaborative model you were looking for?
As reported by the acclaimed news portal SatireWire, Silicon Pines offers loving care for the technically spare. Pretty sure they could take in dotcoms with problems in managing certain non-equity payment modes.
More than mere navel gazing.