From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,3a9b49a9162025eb X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2003-02-07 04:38:20 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!logbridge.uoregon.edu!arclight.uoregon.edu!wn13feed!wn12feed!wn11feed!worldnet.att.net!207.217.77.102!newsfeed2.earthlink.net!newsfeed.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!harp.news.atl.earthlink.net!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Bye-bye Ada ? Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 07:37:49 -0500 Organization: MindSpring Enterprises Message-ID: References: <3E3EA64A.8B60939C@adaworks.com> <3E41E35B.8E52C580@adaworks.com> <7vsmv0h24f.fsf@vlinux.voxelvision.no> NNTP-Posting-Host: d1.56.b8.60 X-Server-Date: 7 Feb 2003 12:38:20 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:33877 Date: 2003-02-07T12:38:20+00:00 List-Id: Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen wrote in message news:7vsmv0h24f.fsf@vlinux.voxelvision.no... > > The problem with maximizing the gains, which is probably the reason > the vultures would like to change your plans, is that you also > maximize the risks. This does not matter too much to the venture > capitalists, because they spread their risk, one company in ten > getting a real success is enough for them. > Agreed, but a couple of points: Even a venture capitalist doesn't want to see the business fail. Sure they may go for greater risk, but they still have a large amount of money invested in success and they want to protect that too, so they aren't necessarily out to destroy what you are trying to create. Also, just a general rule of business - pick your partners very carefully and get a lawyer. This is true if you've got a venture going with your best buddy or with Engulf & Devour Venture Capital, Inc. In many respects, its better to go into business with someone you *don't* have a trusting relationship with - nothing gets assumed and you live by what's written down in the contract. Venture capitalists also come in many flavors - the more "formal" type that have corporations that basically fund ventures, build them up and sell them off and then you have the type where you simply have a rich guy looking for something to put some money in. Even going to the bank for a loan is a kind of "venture capital" in that they have some money at risk and will insist on various safeguards, etc, that can be constraining on your business. > Remember, their goal is not to maximize the probability of you getting a profit. > Agreed. In business (as often in life) people's interests are going to be different. What I hope to achieve is not going to be in lockstep with what you hope to achieeve, so always beware when working with someone else in risky endeavors and make sure you do the best you can to understand the other guy's motivation. > And yes, *I have* bad experiences with venture capitalists. > Lots of people have worked for companies that were taken over or otherwise run by venture capitalists - myself included - and seen that they can easily get ruthless in trying to make a profit. One wants to be very careful about who one crawls into bed with. My point was not really to make a case for going to venture capitalists. My point was to indicate that Ada is going to be better promoted by those with an interest in it if they start successful businesses that use Ada to build their end products. How one gets the money to make that work is a very open ended question. Personally, I've got some ideas for things I think could make a good business and I'd like to find ways of making that work out. That means you've got to leave the door open to all different sorts of paths to make something grow - including possibly venture capitalists. But whether you go to a venture capitalist or some large corporation that wants an end product or your rich old uncle or the bank or even your prospective associates, you've got to do some ground work to identify a market and do some research and have a business plan that indicates a high probability of success or you're just going to flounder. MDC -- ====================================================================== Marin David Condic I work for: http://www.belcan.com/ My project is: http://www.jast.mil/ Send Replies To: m c o n d i c @ a c m . o r g "I'd trade it all for just a little more" -- Charles Montgomery Burns, [4F10] ======================================================================