Let’s not forget, this is the same guy who pitched Box at the Ira Sohn investment conference (Hear him explain his “best idea”, 2018: https://youtu.be/PBjDyFKgDzg).
He is a great talker, great hype man, possibly a great growth marketer, but he is certainly not a great investor.
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. In this situation there aren’t any obvious winners except those with cash that will be able to buy properties and other assets at discounted prices given the cascade of selling we’re likely to see in the coming weeks and months. Banks will suffer with non performing loans across many industries and loan types. Banks also have compression of net interest margins with rates close to zero. But banks are in good shape going into this mess and will likely be backstopped by the federal government and will probably come out in a lot better shape than other stakeholders.
We've been fans of Bitcoin since going through Y Combinator with Coinbase in Summer 2012. Back then the value of BTC was just over $5. We're excited to announce that we are now one of the largest product catalogs now accepting Bitcoin.
What is Zentail.com? Launched in July 2014, we're a fast-growing online shopping site that is relentlessly focused on providing the lowest possible prices on over 100,000 products primarily in the electronics category.
I just spoke with the CEO/co-founder of G-wearables, maker of Goccia. This product will be shipping in May to Kickastarter backers. Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of visible light (LED) communication? Interested in feedback from the HN community.
gbraad, thanks very much for your insights! Your assessment of Alibaba.com's international marketplace is spot on.
Here's what we mean by 'safer'; our competing B2B International Marketplace (soon to be branded) is an integrated ecosystem of logistics service providers (neutral 3rd party logistics warehouses), suppliers and buyers. Our inspection, inventory management, and distribution management suite allows for real-time visibility (http://www.hdtradeservices.com/distributor.php#inspection), and facilitates a hyper-proactive approach to purchasing. The result is an unprecedented level of transparency and security when sourcing, as you can verify quality before your goods are paid for and shipped. Further, all suppliers on our platform will be rigorously vetted, and monitored via our inspection service.
colinsidoti, thanks for bringing up Panjiva. We're very familiar with the company, in fact I had an opportunity to meet Josh Green, founder & CEO, at World Trade Week in NYC this past May. We really like what the company is doing. Think of them like the google of international trade related search. Just last week, they announced Global Search, which will seriously bolster their service. Here's an excellent resource for learning more about Panjiva: http://panjiva.com/blog
Awesome feedback re: payment methods, thanks again for sharing!
We encourage buyers to route their goods through our growing network of inspection locations. These locations are neutral 3rd party logistics service providers (think DHL, except specialized in value added services like quality verification). They use our high definition inspection technology (http://www.hdtradeservices.com/distributor.php#inspection) to provide buyers with the ability to verify quality remotely, in real time. If the quality of the shipment does not meet your agreement with your vendor, you should not complete payment. It's a very proactive way to manage trade risk.
Thanks for your feedback, rickdale! Congrats on launching your business under such uncertainty. We love hearing about experiences through B2B sites, especially Alibaba.com. Although you haven't had any horror stories, which we hear all too frequently, sounds like you've experienced a few curveballs. No more curveballs! Help us build a truly transparent purchasing environment.
Really smart idea, site looks solid. I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of QR codes, but you mention in your response to Jordhy that it's more fail safe than Bump.
1. Android (even though I'm an iPhone snob...). Definitely impressed with what they've done, although they rely on 3rd party hardware manufacturers to ensure a seamless experience. It's tough not to have an Android device if you're using Gmail and Google Docs religiously. Which brings us to the next point...
2. Google Apps for business could start to offer some great benefits to startups, as you can collaborate more easily and tap into things like Google Analytics, etc. from one centralized location.
Have a fun night with your team. We just had a video game, March Madness, pizza hangout. Lot's of beer was consumed, people had a great time. The next day our company morale was noticeably higher.
Take a step back, try to spot areas where you and your cofounder butt heads, it most likely comes down to two things: 1) Communication 2) Expectations.
Manage your communications and expectations proactively and you'll be a much happier company.
I believe it was Eric Ries who once said; "Entrepreneurship is synonymous with failure." Try to learn as much as you can from this experience. Stay hungry, entrepreneurship is in your blood. If need be, take a step back and re-focus. No one ever said it was going to be easy.
Good luck bud!
P.S. What you've experienced is certainly a fear of mine. How you handle this adversity will say a lot about the person you are.
First of all, I can certainly empathize with you, and very I'm sorry to hear you're going through this difficult time. Most of the advice offered in this thread is quite practical, and it's great to see such a close-knit support group here at Hacker News.
My advice is simple; as cliche as it may seem, take the time to read The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. This book addresses most of the psychology behind your discontent and offers a slew of energizing solutions that should help get you out of the proverbial rut.
If I may, here's a great poem a wise man once shared with me:
Take time to think...It is the source of all power
Take time to read...It is the foundation of all wisdom
Take time to play...It is the source of perpetual youth
Take time to be aware...It is the opportunity to help others
Take time to love and be loved...It is life's greatest gift
Take time to laugh...It is the music of the soul
Take time to be friendly...It is the road to happiness
Take time to dream...It is what the future is made of
Take time to give...It is too short a day to be selfish
Take time to work...It is the price of success*
He is a great talker, great hype man, possibly a great growth marketer, but he is certainly not a great investor.