and I totally agree with you that sharepoint is growing with corporate users.

razor caster

Thanks

ANY company can show some kind of profit, on the income statement, when there are huge dollars behind it on the balance sheet. But when the balance sheet is handed over to “new owners” (the IPO buyers), can that company continue to sustain a profit?

That is the heart of the scam. It used to be, that startups received modest venture investments, then had to show a profit for 8 quarters, before becoming eligible for an IPO. That is no longer the case. Just look at how much the vc’s have pumped into Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. How in the world, are the public stockholders that buy their IPO’s, ever going to make that back?

I appreciate you stopping by, and encourage everyone that’s interested in this topic, to give your post a careful read. I don’t disagree with anything you said.

-steve b.

Looking forward to your future interviews Steve.

Sorry, you're not ready to hear interviews 3 and 4 – you need to go back to 1 and 2. Brad didn't invest in Netscape, Soft Bank, or Mobius. Please re-study the material, then get back to us

But we do appreciate you stopping by, and hope you come back.

Cheers!

Thanks for the good input!

steve

PS, hey we were just interviewing an exec at Microsoft yesterday Bill, but sadly we didnt see you around the office!

Well, defining “what is a startup” is complicated. There are different stages that Startups go through – like a child, from newborn to infant to toddler, to terrible two’s etc. I would classify your venture as a “concept-stage, pre-funding” level startup. Each month in Silicon Valley alone, I would estimate there are around 10,000 new ventures that emerge to fall into this class. Some of them go on in that state for months or years; others are funded in one manner or another fairly quickly.

So the key question here is what level of MOMENTUM do you have? How well defined and realistic are your plans? Depending upon what type of business you are starting, it could take months or even years to pull together a fundable venture.

Often the key catalyst is one of the founder, a friend, or a family member provides a little “friends and family” money, it could be as little as $1 to $15k, to get things really moving.

But the short answer is “YES”, as long as you’re really serious and working hard on it; even if you still have a day job (many great startups begin that way).

But the only completely objective answer is, this question can only be answered 100% accurately “in arrears” (after the fact).

Best of luck!

I was out there on the pad pre-launch about 3 years ago; saw STS-106 go up at the crack of dawn. Definitely the most incredible thing I’ve seen bar none!!

I think it’s time to get back down there and see another launch…

Hope to learn something new from you again!

Stacee

Betsy