There seems to be a lot of buzz about the revitalization of the ’deadpool’ i.e. mocking companies who end up failing during what many are calling a new internet bubble. For those of us too young to have been interested in the last bubble, the deadpool is novel and on the surface, a fun way to poke fun at all the ’fools’ who are trying to make a buck with worthless business models.
My problem with the deadpool is that it reminds me of something that would have occurred in middle school when the fat kid (who happens to outweigh you by 50lbs) makes fun of you. Give me a break, this isn’t high school.
I appreciate what Fred Wilson says about the importance of supporting entrepreneurs. The fact is, even though the web is an empowering instrument for many young people starting businesses, those businesses that inevitably ’succeed’ are the ones who get funding.
In businesses, it has been my experience (though limited) that connections far outweigh actual models. For example, my bet is that if Pete Cashmore launched a social network it would get funding no matter how silly the idea; in fact this might be another fun game for Mashable! to play.
Anyway, from the perspective of a young person with a startup, it takes a lot more balls to ’go for it’ with no connections, no money and no experience than it does for Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com to fund pet projects. Sadly, the few breakthrough stories we hear about successful young (sub 27) entrepreneurs tend to be the exceptions.
What I propose to all the big shots is: put your money where your mouth is.
I would like to see someone create a virtual stock exchange among Web 2.0 companies. Any company could register and issue stock at whatever price per share they choose up to the legally SEC compliant limit, somewhere around $500,000. If that isn’t possible, even a market based on a points system might be fun ’“ we could see what companies the VC’s and big 2.0 bloggers keep in their public portfolios (widgetized of course!).
A market would let the people decide what models are the best and help some struggling firms raise much needed money. It would be interesting to see disclosures on blogs of who invests in what. The investment amounts wouldn’t even matter so much as the chance to win the support, or at least recognition, of some of the big shots.
I say let the people decide. Help out the ’little guys;’ the true Web 2.0 heroes.