This morning I’ve read several interesting posts and articles about which I don’t actually have much to say. Since I think they’re deserving of your attention I’ll post on them anyway.
The first is at McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, written by Bob Vulfov, and is entitled “Welcome to Our Startup Where Everyone Is 23 Years Old Because We Believe Old People Are Visually Displeasing and Out of Ideas”. Here’s a snippet:
As you can probably tell by looking around, every employee at our startup is 23 years old. On the morning of your 24th birthday, the barcode on your employee ID stops working and you can no longer enter our building. We do this to ensure our company has a ceaseless, youthful energy. We believe old people are displeasing to look at and also, bad at ideas.
Recently, I spent several months on an assignment at just such a startup and I can testify that there is more truth in the piece than not.
If you’re not familiar with McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, I recommend it. If you swing by there, check out “Kafka’s Joke Book”.
“Recently, I spent several months on an assignment at just such a startup and I can testify that there is more truth in the piece than not.”
I believe you. But without naming names, just what type of person, or god forbid, institution, “invests” in such a company.
Rich people. That might sound like a trivial response but it’s the only explanation I can come up with that makes any sense.
Not trivial at all. Rich people (especially idle), doctors, dentists, sports people and other entertainers and various other know-it-alls make horrible investors. Not just poor decision making, but in reporting requirements and, if it doesn’t work, bitch and moaners.
We won’t have individuals unless they are in or come out of the business. Life is too short. Give me the Northwestern University endowment.