[ajross]

Is this the end of the current startup era? How did we get from "Make stuff people want" to the current obsession with funding, SEO and "Growth Hackers" (!). This sounds like the same sort of nonsense I was reading in January 2000. Just like the 90's tech boom, the community has become inward-looking, stale, and it's feeding on itself (c.f. this article, which isn't about how to start a company but to be hired by a "startup"). The most exiting new stuff seems to be stuff that just feeds more startups.

None of this is about the practical details of the article. If that's the job you want then this sounds like a great way to get it. But like I said, if this is the kind of thing that's interesting to "startups", then I think the end is near.

[moocow01]

I'd agree that while I really dont have a full picture of the economics of the current startup atmosphere (does anyone?), the culture right now is a pretty strong indicator to me that things are going to stagnate or trend down. IMHO there is a pretty toxic layer of culture that has built up from all the hype that for the most part is adding negative value. I dont really give a crap if people think it fits their definition of a "bubble" or not - if the focus is not on providing tangible value to others, the market will eventually figure it out and value it appropriately. I think there is a large and growing segment of startups that view their business as existing to just bring value to themselves (although will obviously never be admitted) - business plans that stop at getting funding, comfy office suites, parties, etc. Part of this is getting driven by a segment of newly inspired newcomers that view startups as essentially just a cool atmosphere where they could get rich rather than what startups really should be to be successful ... a slog through utter absolute shit to try to do something that really matters to the people involved.

[brackin]

I agree with many of the points being made but I don't believe that we're actually in a bubble. Speaking to serial founders and investors it's actually a much tougher time to raise money right now than six months ago. There was no pop, just a decrease in the market. In fact overall venture capital investments didn't rise significantly over the supposed 2010 - 2011 bubble. It also costs less today so it's tough to compare with the millions being raised by most startups in 1999. Which leads one to believe that many are talking but few are executing on this talk.

If you actually want to build something valuable for the long term. Now is the perfect time to start a company. If you want to raise a seed round and sell fast then you're probably too late or will be shortly.

[Swizec]

Not sure whether I've noticed this or not, but recently I've become strongly focused on startups that align value with their users. Traditional consumer startups are crap, get eyeballs, sell to advertisers "or something".

Screw that. If you aren't making something your users want to pay for, start making something else.

That said, I think SEO and "growth hacking" can be very useful AFTER you get the basic "We provide value to our users" thing solved.

[mason55]

Welcome to enterprise

[Swizec]

Not quite, I really like the idea of selling to consumers :)

As a consumer I pay for a bunch of (online) services that I use. There's bound to be others out there ...

[paulgb]

Here's what I like about this story: Amar tried everything he could to "hack" his way into the position. In the end, he made a lot of noise but it wasn't until he sat down and spent hours learning to code that he got the job. To most people, getting a job after 5.5 months is not "hacking", but it's more admirable. That's the moral I got from the story, whether it was intended or not.

[epicjunction]

  Michael was speaking at the KWB2B Marketers Meet Up
  I hopped in my dad’s car and drove to Waterloo.

Do founders usually prefer hiring someone who stalks them? Even if they quote: "lacked any and all experience we were looking for."

Don't get me wrong, I think what Amar did shows a lot of hustle, and his case on them showed that he was willing to learn and is passionate. But still, I think ajross hit the nail on the end with saying "I think the end is near." And I think that end will be when Pinterest has their IPO.

[disgruntledphd2]

While I agree that the end is near, I don't think Pintrest will be the harbinger of the fall. I actually think that they are going to rake in money on the scale of Google. They have intent (from the pins) and targeted advertising, and Google have proved that the model works. Additionally, Pintrest is about stuff, and if you think something is cool and want to do it yourself, you're far more likely to actually click and convert.

Personally, I think the end will come when the free money the Fed are handing out at the moment stops, and not a moment before.

[jeffclark]

>Do founders usually prefer hiring someone who stalks them? Even if they quote: "lacked any and all experience we were looking for."

I imagine it's an ego thing. First-time founders are probably just pretty excited that someone's noticing what they're doing.

[PagingCraig]

You know it's going downhill when you have 'reality' shows about start-ups (Bravo TV).