SOFTWARE TO GIVE DECISION TO PEOPLE THAT USE SOFTWARE INSTEAD OF DUMMIES AT TOP THAT NOT?ME LOVE IT!MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I’ll circle back when the bubble pops. After billions of dollars of retail wealth is lost. Our friends, our family, victimized by a game that was rigged against them from the start. By design.A16z et al. will claim ignorance when it happens of course. How could they have known; the stories they sold, it was what the market would bear; and all sorts of BS arguments. And at the end of the day, they’ll have already pocketed all their gains. Enough to last a thousand lives over. But I hope you know better when you see it.Maybe then you’ll agree.

“Actively, knowingly.”Agreed, that’s the distinction. But if they are knowingly embellishing the story they’re selling—which I believe some are—they’re frauds.As for the SEC — VC also receives unfairly soft treatment. Look at the JOBS Act. Outside a couple blog posts, from a few VCs, is not suspect how disengaged VC has been with democratizing access to their markets?They preach open, transparent and fair markets. Except, it seems, when that means more competition for them.

If public internet valuations massively decline / correct in the next 5 years, will it still be unfair?ps. Glad i found your blog. Really enjoyed “A Calling.” I’ve struggled with many of the same questions…

100% agree, there’s definitely a startup opportunity there — buying in is a huge problem for big companies. Software that would automate the complex decision making process would be huge.

I agree. But in the end GRPN had a window of opportunity to change commerce. They tripped. Sorry, this squandered opportunity was due to a team who just couldn’t innovate.FYI: I was a former customer.

Politely disagree. The economics of the Groupon business model were poor and as a result they suffer in the public markets and too much competition led to enormous margin erosion.The other major issue? Very high marketing costs. At one point they were the biggest buyer of Google Adwords in Europe and were spending £400k (yes that is sterling) per day to acquire customers. Further, If CAC > COGS you’re going to lose hugely even if you have massive revenues. Combine this with super high marketing costs and its not going to end well.I’m not sure bad hiring was the reason. Over hiring most definitely but not bad hiring. Unless bad hiring = building a business worth north of $1bn in three year.FYI: I was a former employee.

THAT MORE LIKE PRE-BED NAP GOT INTERRUPTED.

ENTERPRISE ALMOST ALWAYS TOO BROKEN TO BUY OWN STUFF.THERE PROBABLY STARTUP OPPORTUNITY THERE.

WHAT CALL GREAT PRODUCT CUSTOMERS NOT KNOW ABOUT? FAILURE.