Glenn Kelman wonders a little too self-revealing about the hype motivating serial entrepreneurs. Guy Kawasaki jumps to exactly the wrong conclusion, asserting that VC funds are wasted if a start-up’s founders have conquered their acne. And Marlow Harris wonders if the whole thing is simply Kelman campaigning for his next job.
Loren Nason asks an excellent question: Why the hell isn’t Apple pushing product at the NAR Convention? At a minimum, the smart folks from the Apple Store at the Fashion Show Mall could be selling iPhones by the dozens.
The New York Times notes that TV is losing viewership to on-line alternatives. Ya think? Everything that exists exists in finite quantity. The more of my leisure time I spent on the nets, the less I will have to spend on other pursuits. The more my work time and leisure time blend together, the more everything looks like a nail. If you’re not selling nails, precisely what do you think you have to sell me?
Finally, in more jobs news, Vanessa we hardly knew ye. I didn’t think this was big news on the way in, so I’m less that whelmed on the way out. Much more interesting, a little bug in my ear intimates, is this:
But Fox isn’t the only one who has departed the heavily-funded company in recent months. She said there have been a few people who have left to pursue early-stage opportunities, while one Zillow employee recently set sail for Facebook. Still, she said there is by no means a “revolving door” at the company.
However, some former Zillow engineers — Logan Bowers, Sameer Rayachoti and Greg Whelan — left to create a Seattle startup called Fridge Door. I have been tracking the stealthy startup for the past few days, but have yet to uncover a Web site or contact details. (Shoot me an e-mail if you know it or if you work at the company and are reading this.) I am told that others have left, though not sure if the churn rate is unusually high for a company of that size.
I know nothing about the world of start-up companies, but I can’t feature people with single- or double-digit badge numbers leaving a company that is so obviously pre-IPO. I’m sure the early-in stock options will still vest, but there has to be a loyalty payday for hanging in there. Does this suggest discord in the putatively-heavenly Zillhalla?
Technorati Tags: disintermediation, real estate, real estate marketing, technology, Zillow.com
Jeff Brown says:
Greg — good stuff as usual.
Why would Apple try to sell phones to Realtors, when they can’t, because of the browser, even access 98% of MLS’s?
November 16, 2007 — 4:39 pm
Greg Swann says:
> Why would Apple try to sell phones to Realtors, when they can’t, because of the browser, even access 98% of MLS’s?
Things change.
We own three Macs and three Windows machines. The WinTel boxes almost never get used. The iPhone is already the best real estate phone ever built.
November 16, 2007 — 4:51 pm
Jeff Brown says:
Does that answer mean the inability to access their MLS is not a deciding factor?
November 16, 2007 — 7:20 pm
Greg Swann says:
> Does that answer mean the inability to access their MLS is not a deciding factor?
For most people, I expect it would be. It isn’t for us, and Apple should be looking to penetrate the Realtor market now even if the best is still to come.
November 16, 2007 — 7:28 pm
Arlington Virginia Condos — Jay says:
Don’t most regional MLSs offer a wireless version of MLS. We have the matrix wireless MLS specifically for realtors with smartphones. It’s the most handy tool you can imagine. At any moment you’re out showing property you have the entire MLS at your disposal within seconds. Are we just spoiled in MRIS land in the mid-Atlantic or do other MLS areas offer wireless versions of themsevles. I’m sure the iPhone would be great with our wireless mls.
I can’t wait to learn more about the Android though–(google’s version of a smarthphone).
jay
November 16, 2007 — 7:50 pm
JeffX says:
Apple surely deemed the real estate at The Sands Expo far too expensive…They woulda had to sell about 10,000 iPhones to break even.
As far as Zillow losing some peeps…when I was in Seattle, a little birdy told me they’ve lost 11 soldiers, and counting…
November 17, 2007 — 7:11 pm