Disqus - Latest Comments for css

Re: Why startup biz dev deals almost never get done

Chris Selland — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 17:11:45 -0000

All true but it's not just about money (or reputation). It's about the time and attention it takes the big company's sales team to learn how to effectively sell the smaller company's products and/or services. Not to mention that they need to change the reps' compensation structure or 99% of them won't even bother. Made even worse by the fact that the margins on anything a large company would potentially resell generally are far lower than they make on their own offerings.

And why exactly should the reps spend any time on selling someone else's product rather than their own?

The only way to do this is if the smaller company can position their offerings in a way that helps the larger firm sell their OWN offering(s) more effectively - then you've got a value proposition worth listening to. I.e. 1+1 > 2 for the 2 offerings together. Very tough to do but that's the key.

To truly get Big Co's attention - and commitment - this deal would need to 'move the needle' appreciably. These types of deals seldom do.

Re: Is Starting A Company A Terrible Decision?

Chris Selland — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 08:31:50 -0000

There's so much 'just do it' cheerleading out there - it's nice to hear the counterpoint.

Re: Why I Bought One Bitcoin

Chris Selland — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 13:05:09 -0000

Interesting. I'm not 'there' yet with the idea of there being NO central authority. That's going to take even longer for society to get its head around - and trust. But certainly worth watching.

Re: Why I Bought One Bitcoin

Chris Selland — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 12:39:12 -0000

Ultimately it's not about understanding so much as it's about trust. A currency that is backed by any entity is only as valuable as the level of trust in that entity among those who use the currency. I highly doubt Bitcoin will be, as you say, the crypto-currency because who/what stands behind Bitcoin is far too shadowy - at least at this point in time.

But there's no question this is having a still-subtle but highly-corrosive effect on governments & reserve currencies. Especially as society is increasingly coming to understand that our governments are not fully trustworthy and are becoming increasingly corrupt. And as those same governments are rapidly losing their ability to enforce their 'legal tender'. So yes there is every opportunity for non-governmental organizations to step into that trust gap - a gap which is rapidly becoming a chasm. Whether it's Mt. Gox (doubtful) or someone/something else (inevitable)

We're not there yet but the trend is clear. No better way to understand the future than to dive in.

Re: The Sales Development Team: A Proven Framework for Success

Chris Selland — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 14:23:44 -0000

Great post Craig - agree you should turn this into a book:)

Re: Why does America 'hate' Silicon Valley? - The Term Sheet: Fortune's deals blogTerm Sheet

Chris Selland — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 08:45:23 -0000

You might consider whether that unnamed someone was politely and indirectly asking why the East Coast (and particularly Boston-based) MEDIA - of which you're a member - hates Silicon Valley. I've lived in Boston and worked in the tech sector for more than 20 years now and also spend a great deal of time in Silicon Valley & the Bay Area.

The only 'hate' I have ever witnessed - aside from sports rivalries - comes from the local business & tech media. Apparently fanning the flames of these silly 'region vs. region' stories is part of the job, but just about everyone I know who is actually in the business has tremendous admiration and respect for what has been built and accomplished in Silicon Valley. Which is why so many of our entrepreneurs and employers keep moving there.

Re: Three sales and marketing predictions that probably won’t come true

Chris Selland — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 08:32:33 -0000

Agree on InMail but would rather have that than all of the unsolicited 'Connect' requests I get these days - getting a few a day, every day.

Re: What’s wrong with you? | The Reformed Broker

Chris Selland — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:06:29 -0000

It's not easy getting off 'roids - just ask A-Rod

Re: The Story of Stocktwits From our Founding CTO – Chris Corriveau

Chris Selland — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:09:59 -0000

Love it

Re: Divorce, Facebook Style

Chris Selland — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:39:15 -0000

you're just offended because he stopped leaving blog comments...

Re: Remember we used to to do amazing things like this?

Chris Selland — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:40:01 -0000

well-said

Re: Measured Me: Should Apple Build The iPod of Personal Biometrics

Chris Selland — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:56:19 -0000

just bought a Fitbit - will let you know how I like it

Re: Cute, but tough to see how this would sell even a...

Chris Selland — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 09:31:04 -0000

Who wouldn't be caught dead with a can of Coke Zero. Wonder what Sergio Zyman would think of this one.

Re: Reflections On Closing Our Series A Financing

Chris Selland — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:22:46 -0000

incredibly proud of you, my friend - congratulations!

Re: First, burn all the cupcake stores…

Chris Selland — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:11:19 -0000

You're not on Pinterest, I take it?

Re: The REAL Four Horsemen of the Global Economy…Make it Three… and The Stocktwits 50

Chris Selland — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 10:03:12 -0000

guess it's time we call this the Tablet Economy

Re: Why Mitt Romney May Be The Next Ronald Reagan

Chris Selland — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:26:01 -0000

As much as I want to agree with you (and I do on parts), some of your commenters have a point.

I live in MA and Mitt was a competent, moderate (Romneycare anyone?) governor - I have many friends who worked with him both at Bain and as governor who rave about his honesty, intelligence and integrity.

However, a communicator he ain't - and that was IMHO Reagan's main strength. Mitt just doesn't project and, unfortunately, Obama does (even if, like me, you utterly reject the message he's projecting).

Re: The Twitter Hijacking of Stocktwits $ …The Cashtag

Chris Selland — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 08:23:13 -0000

Twitter likes to state they want an 'ecosystem' but keeps taking actions to prove they don't. Very lame move on their part.

Keep innovating - in terms of the audience that cares about these types of things, you've got it, they don't.

Re: Dude, You’re Getting a Mac…

Chris Selland — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:42:08 -0000

if it wasn't already crystal clear, Steve was special...

Re: It Comes With The Territory

Chris Selland — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:26:21 -0000

You are, without question, one of the most open and approachable people in the venture business - I'd guess this is the unfortunate downside of that approachability.

When you're struggling to raise money it's easy to misinterpret 'he's being nice to me' as 'he's interested in investing'. Especially for entrepreneurs who are repeated told never to take 'no' for an answer.

Re: Value Guys Give Up On Microsoft

Chris Selland — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:42:33 -0000

Over/under on Ballmer still being there in a year?

Re: The Coming Tech Crash

Chris Selland — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:35:43 -0000

Would you agree with the statement that regulators, in their efforts to 'protect' small investors, have actually screwed them instead?

Re: In Defense Of Free

Chris Selland — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 12:10:57 -0000

What benefit would I - as a user - get from 'Twitter Pro'?

Re: Amazon’s About to Nino Brown Your Local Retailers

Chris Selland — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:15:46 -0000

this also makes their acquisition of Kiva Systems even more strategic - those warehouse are going to be highly automated, completely changes the economics of the business

Re: The Thing That I Fear Most

Chris Selland — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:53:30 -0000

glad you made it back Brian - and thanks for sharing