Disqus - Latest Comments for jfedor

Re: One Red Question: What should the comp package look like for this early-stage CTO? - Red Canary

jfedor — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:57:41 -0000

So what are the CTO duties then?

Re: One Red Question: What should the comp package look like for this early-stage CTO? - Red Canary

jfedor — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:27:14 -0000

Are they quadrupling as Product Manager too?

Re: One Red Question: What should the comp package look like for this early-stage CTO? - Red Canary

jfedor — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:36:27 -0000

Depends.

Overall what's the driver/need to add the CTO role? To set/develop vision? To manage research of the PhDs? or is the CTO doing double duty and also VP Eng? If cash flow positive is the plan, is there that much research going on or do you really need someone who can drive a development plan -- hint that's not a CTO.

Regardless, what's the value of the role in relative terms to others and the CEO? Beyond keeping the CTO at a state where they're not worried about food and shelter, what motivates them and how does it align to delivering shareholder value for the org and ultimately the planned liquidity event for the company?

I'm always worried about bonus structures, invariably they incent some ugly/dumb behaviours in the messy world of early stage startups. Especially for senior management

Re: Developer Compensation: A New Reality? - Red Canary

jfedor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:30:17 -0000

When I first read this I was completely shocked. It simply didn't jive with what I'm hearing in the marketplace. Then it jumped out at me, "later stage software clients" which makes more sense. There's a theoretical diminishing of risk in the later stage companies therefore the reward is intuitively less as well.

Additionally the rock star developer typically isn't attracted to the large, late stage company and if they are, they'll likely get handled as a special case. Overall, the market will dictate itself; if a (above average) developer wants the security of a later stage company and retention and incentives are important to them, they'll shop around until they find a home with what they're looking for.

That said I disagree that software developers are suddenly a commodity. I think Red Canary's salary surveys continue to show increases in compensation, at least here in Waterloo. I wish it were true that software developers were equally talented and productive but sadly it just isn't the case. If you've hired right, you pretty much get what you pay for and I wouldn't choose a discount software developer to build my products just like I likely wouldn't choose a discount lawyer to handle a tricky transaction.

Re: Developer Compensation: A New Reality? - Red Canary

jfedor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:59:17 -0000

Re: GumGum reports strong usage, completes funding round

jfedor — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:07:40 -0000

TinEye from Idée is also worth a look -- http://www.ideeinc.com/prod...

Re: AideRSS partners with NewsGator

jfedor — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:44:16 -0000

Just for the record Terry and I didn't have disagreement with the direction of AideRSS but rather we were both contractors to the company. NewsGator was one of my last projects at AideRSS and we're still fans and users of the service.

We left to launch our new startup ParkVu.

Re: » AideRSS partners with NewsGator | StartupNorth

jfedor — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:44:16 -0000

We left to launch our new startup ParkVu.

Re: I love my city, and so should you

jfedor — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:44:32 -0000

I'm in the same boat as Leila. Probably because of our shared panel experience. I too have a draft but you've done all the heavy lifting here. Well said especially the competition between cities point.

Re: » I love my city, and so should you | StartupNorth

jfedor — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:44:32 -0000

Re: Casting in late 2007 (Scripting News)

jfedor — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:47:33 -0000

I suppose fits under #5 Lifecasting/event stream aggregation -- products like Onaswarm (my fave) or FriendFeed. Then you get FF in Facebook get this bizarre mirror in a mirror event happening.

Also there's the personal feed aggregation/interest casting -- stuff like RSS Mix or Google Reader Shared Feed.