DISQUS

Alex Fedotov · 5 years ago

I strongly disagree with Mr. Doerr,

Is the "catalog trade" just *implemented* in a form of a web-site something 'adult' (Amazon)? In my humble opinion it's just a form of what Qelle was doing for almost half of a century... It's not 'adult' it's indeed 'aged' business-model.

Is the Google business-model of making money on advertizements while having a *different* main product (search result) 'adult'? NO IT IS NOT ! Because it contradicts the very essence and nature of the main product! In fact Google right now *has no economic interest* to find exactly what the client is looking for! Otherwise who would be clicking the sponsored links? In fact Google has refuted itself by doing that instead of developing advanced search capabilities, making it state of the art and offering *this* (the main product) at a price... Otherwise, what's the point of improvements, Mr. Doerr?

Regards

Alex Fedotov · 5 years ago

P.S. It's exactly like if one would say:"we know how to dig coal and oil, they can be burned and we'll get some heat, which means that we have an 'adult' business-model". What about "gasoline" and internal combustion engines? Don't you anticipate that somebody will be *refining* oil and shall come up with a cars and airplanes soon? ... what'll happen with 'adult' steam-engines then? :)

Alex Fedotov · 5 years ago

P.P.S. The last thing. As to business-networking, the venture industry would better keep an eye on the things like this linkedin.com Max Levchin is nursing with... In my opinion - THAT is the next stage of business-networking, particularly usefull for 'stealth' companies, you won't even *know about their existence* soon.

Alison Chaiken · 5 years ago

When the conversation turns to government policies that squelch innovation, I am amazed how VCs talk about options rather than our shambles of a patent system. The patent system as currently constituted allows large companies with deep pockets to prevent small competitors (who may well have better products) from entering their business. The VCs know perfectly well that the IP system favors lawyers and decreases competition. Why do they remain silent on this issue? The patent system may well allow Microsoft to crush the Open Source movement, which would stifle software innovation for another generation. This development would be strongly counter to the VCs' interests. Presumably they fear Microsoft, like almost everyone else.