[mindcrime]

I take the (apparently quaint) view that you should make money because your product/service provides real value to others. And that if you do provide real value then there's a monetization pathway (by charging those people that you do provide value to).

I have to admit, I don't see the connection between that and the blurb you quoted above. I certainly don't disagree with the idea of providing real value, nor with the idea of charging people that you provide value to. In fact, I very recently wrote a rant[1] expressing very much that opinion. So I'm not sure what exactly it is you think we disagree about, if anything.

I'm just saying that launching a startup can be based in both a desire to "do something you enjoy" AND a desire to become wealthy. Exactly which "monetization strategy" you employ is, IMO, up to the founder(s) based on: their goals, market conditions, business circumstances, life circumstances, and probably a bazillion other things.

[1]: http://fogbeam.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-point-of-startup-is-...

[niggler]

I think we disagree on the extent to which "desire to become wealthy" should be a driving factor. I think the state where founders are primary driven by short-term wealth is not appropriate (it is easier to be wealthier in other areas like finance), whereas I take your comments to suggest that you think it's acceptable for making money to be the primary motivation. The views aren't mutually exclusive (timing factors, etc)

[mindcrime]

I think we disagree on the extent to which "desire to become wealthy" should be a driving factor. I think the state where founders are primary driven by short-term wealth is not appropriate (it is easier to be wealthier in other areas like finance), whereas I take your comments to suggest that you think it's acceptable for making money to be the primary motivation.

Aah, gotcha. Well, we may not disagree that much after all. I am not saying that "desire to be wealthy" should be a big driving factor, I'm just OK with the idea that it might be. And, more to the point, going back to my original comment that prompted all this, I'm saying that it's OK to "take the money" (that is, take an acquisition) if you need a large sum of money, at a point-in-time, and that's the best route to get it. The reasons you might want to do that are very varied, personal and subjective, and I don't think any of us have the right to judge somebody who makes that decision.

As far as what I find "acceptable", you should understand... I'm a libertarian who finds everything "acceptable" as long as it doesn't involve initiation of force or fraud. But finding something "acceptable" is not the same thing as finding it "desirable" or "good". And since I have no standing to judge someone else's decisions, it doesn't really matter what I think about their motivations, goals, desires, etc.