I told a friend of mine a few days ago that more than a few of the Linuxy startups I went to or left were going in some direction. A few were moving upward; but more were finding the path to the Levanta end game. The post I did before made me consider what these companies do, why I was there, and why I’m glad to be gone. A few of the reasons why I went:
disruptive technologies - we all want to work for a someone that challenges the status quo in open source. It makes the moments more exciting to be taking on Uncle Bill and spinning the technology in a new direction.
innovation and evolution - we want a clear path to tomorrow. Open source startups are supposed to chart new courses, excite us, thrill us. They are supposed to reach to our hearts and brains with new ideas.
mundane security at some minimum - perhaps we want a paycheck for the other two ideas; but often we are idealists and the plumbing and hours and reasons and ethic may be up front. Lets face it though. We do these things to make money. Here in the bay area and the Silly Icon valley we need money. Hell; gas alone is costing me over $4 a gallon now in Foster City.
But for many of us soon the shine has worn off the shoe. The shoe is all scuffed and needs a new sole. Perhaps we need a new soul too. We also seem to lose our reasons for being there. The first two blur away and we’re left with the last thing. That’s too bad. Because we lose the joy and only want the mundane things that the money brings. Forget passion, fun, challenge. Now its gasoline, food, health insurance. But those things are important. Because here too; those things are expensive. A one job family simply cannot make it here in the Bay area. It costs too damned much. But the startups spin off and VCs give money for new gizmo-ology. What is gizmo-ology you ask? Its the thing a fuzzy headed, soft spoken entra pa noor does with money. They invent gizmos and gadgets that they pitch and sell and tell VCs that the world simply must have more of the first two things in my list.
Soon though, like the sad Levanta story and the Linuxcare story before it; the reality sets in. I’m happy at this point to not work at a startup. I have been “started up” way too many times and unfortunately, I’ve been “spun down” way too many too. Visa suits me. It gives me a bit of both. Lets be honest. They pay good. They give me challenge and innovation in some areas. But most of all, I think they offer the other “s word”. Stability.
Startups may start with the same first few letters as Stabilkity but they many don’t have the “ability” to be a ST. Their left with substituting letters and spinning down to a point where they’re left in a building with no employees, no vision, no feeling. Forget innovation and evolution. Find something that pays the bills.
