Josh Zeidner — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 05:43:35 GMT

Francine,

Do you think that a lack of Patent protection for consumer-web ideas is a show-stopper for VCs?

Josh Zeidner — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:59:16 GMT

There was a French philosopher (recently deceased) who spoke of what he called a Simulacrum. Simulacrum is described by him (according to translation):

“Simulation is no longer that of a territory, a referential being, or a substance. It is the generation by models of a real without origin or reality: a hyperreal…. It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real”

Silicon Valley has become a Simulacrum. It is no longer about users, or software for that matter. Its about producing startups… and the product is secondary.

Ultimately a software company is supported by its users. Even if exceedingly complex licensing arrangements and end user agreements that no one ever reads are employed, the user still is implicitly supporting members who get $8000 sign on bonuses and roses for their wife. Someone ultimately has to pay.

It always seems to me that efforts such as this are impossibly over-hyped and laden with hubris. When did starting a successful business become a game show?

finally, why would a sincere effort sacrifice the element of surprise for low-value PR?

I cant help but suspect yet another churn and dump ploy. dot bomb 2.0.

Josh Zeidner — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:59:34 GMT

Matt, its good to hear you are excited. I for one can’t wait for email to be revolutionized. Your startup gets no ‘Lame’ points. When is the IPO?

Oh, and welcome to San Francisco, its good to have someone there who wants to do something other than flip condos.

Found+READ: Comments by Josh Zeidner