[rguzman]

I doubt that it being free has much to do with "VC rules!". Given the success of fogcreek, I'd guess that they could've made stackexchanges free from the get-go. They just found a new business model. Maybe with the help of their VCs.

[frederickcook]

"We believe that if our platform creates value for a large number of users, we will have opportunities to make money."

That doesn't sound like a new business model, it sounds like wishful thinking.

[nl]

um... Advertising? Seems to work for a few sites around the place.