Update — Apparently I wasn’t clear enough below for some readers. Her is the deal: I have so far about 340 candidate companies for 24 positions in my upcoming reality TV series. That means I have to reject 93 percent of all nominated companies. Chances are that your startup will not be selected. So I thought it might be a good idea to point out to those who are true believers in what they are doing that this might be a great time to emphasize more than just the technology and the business. Emphasize the people who have been, in nearly all nominations so far, ignored. If you want a better chance of making the top seven percent, then make a greater effort to sell me on your company. If you can’t edit your nomination, then nominate yourself again or — better still — reach out directly to me with those new details and I’ll make sure they are considered. What isn’t clear about that? As for Mrs. Cringely’s remarks, they were a joke. — Bob
I’ve been going through the 300+ nominations for companies to be in this summer’s Cringely (NOT in Silicon Valley) Startup Tour and I am ready to share some conclusions with you. There are three ways to make the final 24: 1) you can have technology that will change the world for the better; 2) you can have an amazing business model that will change the world for the better, or; 3) you can have fascinating people who may not change the world but just might change my world by meeting them.
So far hardly any companies have tried this Door Number Three.
Technology — business — people, that’s what it comes down to, with people being the easiest, frankly, yet I don’t see much personality in these nominations or even in most of the companies. It’s there, I’m sure, but how can I tell?
Where are the funky company videos? Where are the good natured (or even foul natured — that works, too) founders? Where are the companies relying on smoke, mirrors, and attitude? Where, even, are the single mothers and the Sudanese immigrant company founders?
I am especially disappointed with the entertainment category in this regard. You’d think those people would be the hippest of the hip but they are not. At this point I can see one entertainment company making the cut, maybe two.
We can’t all be another Google but we can present what we have with good humor, of which I am seeing darned little. And that simply doesn’t reflect the startups I’ve known and worked in over the years. Startups are fun, but these seem all too grim.
We have a month to go in this selection process. I’m about to sign that major cable network I’ve been alluding to. This web and TV series is going to happen and it is going to have the crap run out of it over and over on TV until tens of millions of people have seen it.
Don’t you want to be part of that?
Then prove that desire by doing something to stand out from the pack.
One more thing, a word from the very real Mrs. Cringely. I am not making this up, though I’ll tell you right now I don’t condone it. Still, I know which side my bread is buttered on, if you know what I mean and I think you do:
Dear Start Ups,
I thought it might be helpful if you knew the following information….
I’m petite. Extra small should fit just fine. I like fine shoes, especially high heels. My U.S. shoe size is five. I love jewelry. I prefer unique, unusual and funky stuff, not conservative, old lady crap.
Sincerely,
Mary Alyce Cringely
Perhaps a lot of the people who might rock your world aren’t all that interested in being on television? I work for a fantastic startup with interesting technology and a number of great personalities (some pleasant and several distinct curmudgeons – I’m apparently channeling a curmudgeon as I type this). Of course, we also don’t have an office, are located in 6 time zones on 3 continents, and I doubt there’s a single person on staff who has the slightest interest in being on any kind of tv show. We’re out of shape, incredibly busy computer nerds with families and responsibilities, who put enormous hours into keeping this fledgling business running. Our goal isn’t to be the next google or facebook, it is to keep ourselves doing interesting and fascinating technology work that our customers value well into the foreseeable future so that we don’t have to do things like commute to offices, sit in meetings, or give up that mid-afternoon hiking break.
I would think that the companies you truly want, almost by definition, won’t show up on your list, for the simple reason that being featured in a tv series is not necessarily compatible with a lot of business plans. Sure, the publicity might prove valuable, but unless a company is marketing to joe tv-watching-consumer, such publicity has limited value. The distraction of making a tv series, on the other hand, is sure to have an impact, even assuming the staff are interested in participating. We are talking software engineers, here (in the case of tech companies, anyway), not hollywood celebrity offspring.
Sam G,
Yawn! I believe if you had the opportunity to be on TV, you would take it! Think of all the young lives you could change with your nerdy philosophy. Not to mention the lucrative financial windfall it would bring to your loved ones.
I’d love to be on TV, but was horribly disfigured in an errant hard drive mishap, ;-(
Adios,
Travis B.
Are you also trying really hard not to market your company and make big money?
For what it’s worth, I love your idea of a startup tv show! It’s a little bit like what iTunes has done for programmers; now they can feel like artists, logging into the same portal as musicians do to sell their work! Still, there are only few of us out there who think they can be stars and programmers at the same time.
I’m waiting for the Cringely (Not in USA) Startup Blogger Tour.
His family gets a corporate paid trip to Australia, and I get more publicity for my fledgling EEVblog!
Dave.
Bob,
So you want to interview creative wackos or some other interesting types, but not hard working drones, is it? Okay, whatever it takes. Let’s see now…
“I was lying in bed, just coming awake. There was a presence at the side of my bed. Turning to see what it was, my eyesight was limited to a narrow horizontal band. I saw only the lower part of a white robe. Then my band of vision slowly moved upward. It was just about to reveal the face of the creature when it suddenly disappeared. Darn, I thought. I had always wanted to see what Jesus looked like.”
“The revelations slowly came to me in bits and pieces. They seemed strange at first, weird even. At first, I just ignored them. However, eventually I started see a different interpretation of life and reality. There seemed to be new possibilities for me, if I was only willing to change my attitudes and beliefs. The downside was that all my problems were my own fault. No longer could I blame circumstances or other people for my shortcomings. This was a bitter pill to swallow.”
Okay Bob, is that weird enough for you?
The above posting concerned the beginning of my conversion to a creative wacko. (Whereas most of my adult life I was a conservative accountant.)
In the beginning, the conversion was easy, if somewhat mystifying. The hard part was putting the revelations into practical use. The task was to interpret, organize, and explain them to ordinary people. I arranged them to reinforce each other and allow people to use them piecemeal, if desired.
After creating the Magic Success Secrets section, developing the rest of the website was straightforward, but tedious. I just had to integrate the appropriate revelations (along with common sense and my knowledge of human nature and small business procedures) into whatever subject I was working on. This was part of the “information technology” aspect of my site. (Do I hear laughing in the background?)
Okay, what’s more important? Choice one — having a tool that handles information at the speed of light. Choice two — knowing what to do with information once you have it in your hands. I vote for choice two.
Hey, Bob. Am I looking warm and fuzzy yet?
Maybe I should rethink putting my company in your startup tour, perhaps the very real Mrs. Cringely might take note. Actually, I do have some techo initiative with all the current buzzwords in the works. It brings technology together with Fashion, Beauty and Glamour. and lots of smoke and mirrors.
In short, after we created our profile, we couldn’t edit it to add things like our funky videos. At Knewton, we film tons of video, because our business is built around being able to deliver cheap, fantastic test prep to people anywhere in the world. But in the rush to get in, things like the videos got missed and there was no way to change your profile after the fact.
we added one of our videos to the comments, but it’s way easy to miss them there.
Here it is again, I think it shows that we are way more then test prep, and have a goal to change education permanently and for the better: https://www.youtube.com/user/KnewtonGMAT#p/u/5/LldxxVRj4FU
I’m not an entrepreneur (not yet anyway), but may be the attitudes you are wanting to see from the startups is a little “two decades ago.” Back then you could afford to be wacky, and irreverent, crazy, and obnoxious because VC money was flowing like new wine. The new wine was probably flowing too. The realities of the new millennium, and those of basic economics, crushed those that weren’t making money and taught the survivors and any would be startup, that if they want to see any new money they need to grow up.
Don’t be so hard them. Besides everybody can’t be Mark Cuban.
Our company discussed the concept but too many with a vote were concerned about the payback for time spent. We kept coming back to the concept that marketing should be targeted and TV naturally has a diffuse audience, at least for a high tech startup. Another concern was indirectly revealing customers that consider their interaction and projects proprietary.
Personally, I still like the idea. It seems we are all working hard to grow our companies and have to focus our energies as best we can.
I call BS. After complaining about the lack of “personality” and humor with the submissions, you READ the quote from the lovely Mrs. Cringely. Wouldn’t it be in the spirit of this post to have HER read her quote?
Lead by example, Mr. Cringely.
-KLH
Especially if Mrs. C has a sexy, sexy voice!
Perhaps this sucky economy just breeds a more austere outlook, even in startups. It’s not a good time to mess up if you’ve either got funding or are hoping to get it. In better times, the risk is less and folks can afford more flamboyance.
Just my $0.02
SJC
I can understand why Mrs. Cringely would want to tell you or her friends what she likes in the way of clothing, but why are you sharing that info with us?
So you’re looking for start with the bumper sticker on the entrance door:
You don’t have to be CRAZY to work here … but it sure helps
Why you just didn’t ask them to submit their entrance door picture.
As I can recall Apple had pirate flag in front of it.
“I am especially disappointed with the entertainment category in this regard. You’d think those people would be the hippest of the hip but they are not.”
This may be why the entertainment industry is suing everyone they can for improper use of their property. These people are very paranoid and self-important. They also don’t know how to pay their entertainers a reasonable wage so they have to overcharge for everything. It’s like a grocery store with roaches and the owner not understanding why his old customers are going elsewhere. 🙂
“here, here” to “NOT in the USA”! See you next year in Niu Sila. Popsickle-toes, we love you, but leave the fashion-wear at home. Bring your bare feet. Get ready for serious fun.
btw, what’s TV?
Lol, Mr. Cringely:
I’m pretty sure that you, Mrs. Cringely, or both were at least a little drunk when you posted this article. (or maybe it was just me when I read this article) Thank you for your honest appeal for personality and humor from startup companies. I totally agree that ultimately, the spirit of a startup is what powers its drive and success in the long run… that being said, I humbly submit https://www.portlandstudios.com/ for consideration. Among their talented members, Justin Gerard is one of the most talented, creative, and promising modern artists that has ever graced the human race. Portland Studio’s focus is on children’s literature… where the future is shaped. Please consider their potential impact on the U.S. children’s literature, digital artistry, and as Robert Maynard Hutchins envisioned, the Great Conversation. Thanks for all your work and vision.
Steve McKisic
You know, Cringe, this update posting today makes me wonder…
If this “tour” is to be formatted for TV/Cable, I have to ask:
Why didn’t you require the candidates to produce THEIR OWN YouTube video of at least 5 minutes as part of the “application process?” Go further: restrict the camera used to a VADO or FLIP or animation using OpenSource tools.
I haven’t bothered except on the very first day to look at the application web page. BORING. One dimensional.
On the other hand, if there were a video button for each enrty, I think I might have been exploring regularly to see who would be on my final short list.
Ah I scanned back just in case I might be making a fool of myself.
I see the Knewton Adaptive Learning Platform – Tutorial Video !
That it: sell me, show who you are and what you are offering! :^)
Excellent idea. Every knows that interesting characters and conflict make for good storytelling on TV.
Seriously, you had to tell people Mrs. Cringely’s comment was a joke?
I’m looking forward to seeing this process move forward, mostly because of what you, Mr. Cringely, have done for technology and geeks like me.
Know that your work is appreciated and even more so with your pending tour. May the royalties be enough to put your kids through college! :~)
Mary Alyce, I’d love to give you some fine underwear to go with your shoes and jewelry — why don’t you meet at my place to discuss the further, at my house in Malibu. Give me a call. – Larry Ellison
https://www.hauteliving.com/sections/features/celebrity-living-malibu/
Enjoyed your presentation yesterday. My startup may not make your final cut (Healthcare, Technology) it still is a lot of fun.
Next time I’m on the coast lets meet at the Peninsula Grill and I will give you an update on the company status.
Stock is great but so is a paycheck!
Love to meet up but don’t need the Peninsula Grill. Bubba Slye’s would would be just fine, too!
Your idea is nobel, Bob, yet I think you’ve lost your mojo and there is little you can do about it beating a dead horse on a TV. TV is dead for the younger population and you seem to live still in 1995.
I really enjoyed the Triumph of the Nerds but it will be impossible to repeat it’s success doing something on TV now.
If you were actually serious about the whole ‘action’, you should pair with the big social websites. Without their support, you are deemed unreliable.
Face it, no one serious cares about what you do right now. Your comment numbers are mostly null. How do you expect any serious company to know you and trust you? The contest site is made from a template by some 3rd party company, your blog is full of suspicious ads and you’ve got the record of “that funny guy who’s never right on his predictions”. Don’t be disappointed.
Best wishes, though! Your idea has a great potential.
Hi Scott, Don’t underestimate Californians tenacity.
There are lots of new and interesting start-up businesses out there, but few of which are foolish enough to appear on a reality TV show or documentary, potentially closing the door in on a large slice of ‘serious’ business.
what the heck is going on. this is insanity.
And here I thought Mrs.Cringley was going to place some rules regarding what kind of interesting people ( read booth babes ) a company could introduce you to!
I think the show is a great idea. I’m a big fan of Dragons Den here in Canada ( and now a similar production in the U.S. called Shark Tank ) and I like the difference yet similar aspects of your show.
My apologies to Mrs. Cringely on the typo.
We are selling a lot of licenses worldwide, that’s been more our focus than wacky videos. I’ve noticed that some of the most boring companies are also some of the most successful. Some of the most interesting companies aren’t making a dime.
Comvigo IM Lock
If you want to be a Forex trader, you need a plan or a strategy to decide what operations to perform. There are many different types of strategies, but none of them are of uniform size. Each operator must develop a strategy that suits them and their situation. Some traders only on fundamental analysis, where others are not motivated to use the technical analysis, but is much more common for investors to use a combination of both.
There is a saying in foreign exchange market, The trend is your friend. Because prices move in trends, find out if you can, and install these trends tend, it will be profitable. Technical analysis is based exclusively on research and analysis of these trends. The market is moving clearly identifiable patterns, the models are investigated for years and are well known. The learning of these patterns and develop the ability to read these trends is the basis for a good strategy for the technical analysis.
Many tools are available to analyze and understand market movements and patterns. At the beginning trader, you have every tool to study independently, to develop a good understanding of their function and use. A master of the tools, you may continue, while the education of the next tool that you want to learn. Since many of these tools are similar to the time it takes to learn a new instrument, shall continue to decline, as you become with several of them.
They are based on many business strategies of the Support and resistance to find levels. The level of support is what is covered than the lowest price of a currency, the currency on that level and then increase again. The amount of resistance, the opposite is the highest price that the currency, but is usually done. Once this is reached, it will be someday. It is natural that the level of support and resistance to change gradually over time.
If a currency is soon beyond the normal level of support and resistance, then the currency should continue in this direction for some time. One currency will be as optimistic when it goes up, whether a currency is rising and breaking through its normal level of resistance continue to move upwards for a while.
You must determine the price tables contribute to the amount of pensions and the resistance of a coin. They study the maps on the search for a continuous pattern of high and low prices that the currency is higher. The more time you will take your card for more accurate and reliable analysis. You can then decide these levels, if you enter and leave a commerce.
This [url=https://www.forexstrategysite.com/]forex strategy[/url] is that the operators can be used, it is entirely based on technical analysis is based. To be truly effective needs analysis Forex traders who employ several strategies, depending on market conditions.
super-excellent advice. I’m going to article a link of this podcast on my blackboard web page for my students. Everything you said works for discussion boards too. Thank you !
Chemical engineers make things to ensure the very most efficient work. This means that the entire producing chain must be planned and regulated for costs. A chemical engineer can either simplify or complicate showcase effects for an economic advantage. Using a higher pressure or temperature makes several reactions easier; ammonia, for example, is easily produced from the making up elements in a high-pressure reactor. On the other hand, reactions with a small can be recycled endlessly, which would be hard, arduous work if done manually in the laboratory. It is not unusual to build 6-step or even twelve-step evaporators to reuse the vaporizing energy for an economic benefit. In contrast, laboratory chemists evaporate samples in just one step. Crayola Glow Dome
RuebenGikky Watch NFL miguekcekici Watch Football Online Free kairBanczon orbanReorbc Ranbakkkacoci
Thanks very good o/
good thanks o/
good thanks o/
You certainly have some agreeable opinions and views. Your blog provides a fresh look at the subject.
Your submit could be very informative and convey a greater understanding of what you have brought up. Thanks
Have to love blogger for this one. Appropriate timing with today’s tv news.
Plants vs. Zombies for iPhone/iPad US$.99. What are you waiting for? Buybuybuy!
Very nice post, bookmarked your blog!
Mary Alyce, I’d love to give you some fine underwear to go with your shoes and jewelry — why don’t you meet at my place to discuss the further, at my house in Malibu. Give me a call. – Larry Ellison
Hey, i’ve been reading this blog for a while and have a question, maybe you can help… it’s how do i add your feed to my rss reader as i want to follow you. Thanks.gratc
This blog is a walk-through for all the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Look here, you’ll absolutely get your answers.
interesting writeup, i’ve got to mention this to a friend of mine
our submit could be very informative and convey a greater understanding of what you have brought up. Thanks
His family gets a corporate paid trip to Australia, and I get more publicity for my fledgling EEVblog!
This is very good. I am sitting down in my hotel room in Killarney browsing these remarks. A few of them are good whilst some fail to help to make very much common sense in anyway. I am on holiday however , I just could hardly help myself away from looking around this blog site albeit my hotel room right here in Killarney charges on line consumption by the hour.4 star hotels in killarney town,hotels in killarney town center
Each of their lv customers just can buy one piece for each type in order to let other customers buy all for one type.
Wow! je connaissais pas, a bientot 🙂
Nonetheless, by working with some widespread perception and a bit of research, you can undoubtedly choose a solid winner from the enormous group of payday personal loan companies. Our monetary schemes are a alternative to this significant problems.
in which did you get the generators from while using the sprockets