StitchLabs–Solving SMBs Inventory Woes
Many readers know that outside of technology, I own a business that manufactures apparel and other products and sells them both online and through retail outlets. Having been involved in that business for 17 or so years, I’ve had first-hand experience of just how difficult it is to run a tightly integrated operation with e-commerce, [...]
The Workday IPO and ‘F You Money
The other day, a VC asked me about a founder he was thinking of investing in. He asked me if this founder had, quote, ‘F You Money. {I learned how this was spelled when a Businessweek article this week used the term, btw}. I wasn’t really sure if he meant this as a negative, but [...]
Is Silicon Valley Really Coming to an End?
By now you probably know that David Sacks, co-founder of PayPal and founder of both Geni & Yammer made some observations on Facebook that Silicon Valley “as we know it” was coming to an end. He says “In order to create a successful new company, you have to find an idea that (1) has escaped [...]
Everyone Feels Like An Imposter
I had the good fortune of being allowed to be a mentor at the Unreasonable Institute this year. If you ever get the chance, it’s something you should definitely do. In my two days at the institute, I got to meet a bunch of amazing people who are maki…
Education Bubble maybe or maybe not – the siren call of Peter Thiel
I will agree with Peter Thiel that education as we know it is hard to justify the inputs versus the outputs, especially the costs of education. I have attended many colleges over the years, graduated from two of them, have an advanced degree and feel good about it. The degree has helped me with employment, [...]
Don’t Take Sides, Take Issues (How To Think About Wikileaks)
Image via Wikipedia I’ve been following the Wikileaks saga with increasing interest, because it embodies a principle in which I firmly believe: Don’t take sides, take issues. People have asked if I’m pro-Wikileaks or anti-Wikileaks. One of my friends said she was anti-anti-Wikileaks. The problem with taking sides is that its rare that sides are [...]
API, API, API, API, API, API
If you imagined a tech CEO or an evangelist or a pundit jumping up and down like Steve Ballmer and shouting “API, API, API, API, API…….”, it may come true faster than you ever expected. In this cloud based world where every service wants to be a platform (see my PaaS Is The Future of [...]
Software Marketing Pranks
I envy software marketing types. They get to stay kids forever: pull pranks and even get paid for it.:-) Today’s example comes courtesy of TechCrunch: PayPal competitor WePay dropped a 600lbs ice block at the entrance of the Paypal developer conference. They got chased away and Moscone security removed the ice block. My question: who [...]
Are You Still Using Your Real Credit Card Online? You Shouldn’t.
So iTunes got hacked and some users saw unauthorized purchases up to $600 in their accounts. I’m shocked. Not at the fact that iTunes got hacked, but that users exposed their credit accounts to such extent. Websites do get hacked, it’s a fact of life. Users need to change their passwords, consider what other sites [...]
It’s All About Support – Granular Is Good
The other day I had one of those nightmare situations that only those who are similarly detail-focused (some would say retentive) as myself can appreciate. Now I’m a stickler for detail – it really offends my sensibilities when things aren’t stacked in order, when things don’t match and, most of all, when the numbers in [...]
So, You Want to be a Platform?
Everyone wants to be a platform these days. And they are popping up faster than I can keep track of them. Facebook became a platform, enabling application developers to develop on top of Facebook. Next came the iPhone. Salesforce.com offered Force.com as a platform. Twitter became a platform. A few weeks back PayPal became a platform. AmEx bought [...]
Reactions to AmEx’s Acquisition of Revolution Money
Karen Webster of Market Platform Dynamics asked me to share some quick reactions on the announced acquisition of Revolution Money by AmEx this morning. As a result, my thoughts are cross-posted on PYMNTS.com. Karen asked me to address the following questions/issues: What was your initial reaction to the news? My initial reaction was that AmEx move to purchase [...]
