Happy New Year everyone. Be safe and festive tonight.
We are sticking to Kirkland this year for our celebration and look forward to seeing the fireworks at the Space Needle from the deck. Let's hope there is no malfunction this year.
I'm looking forward to a great 2009!
My other option for the title of this post was 'Why Cuil Failed' but I didn't want to clutter the title with a phonetic explanation: Cuil = cool. Or not.
If you don't know what Cuil is, no worries, as they are now on a deathwatch. There is, however, a lesson to be learned from their grand adventure.
They launched to much excitement that they were a better search than Google and even a "Google killer." A big claim…and big story. A true threat set to unseat the king of search and with the brains on board to do it. The only problem? It didn't work well enough. It didn't measure up to the hype.
It is always important to sell a vision but you must have the ability to back it up to some degree. There is plenty of time to sing the praises of how much better or innovative you are than the other guy once you actually have the customers and experience to prove it.
The backlash comes quickly and severely in a connected world especially since technology products and services are becoming more consumable leaving users to try them and form opinions outside the span of marketing's control.
Cuil peaked before it was able to deliver leaving any incremental improvement to be seen as correcting a problem versus delivering a new capability.
Anyway, at this point it isn't really about better search. Google didn't create search, they wrapped a business model around it.
Here's another report from the Seattle microcosm of the economy. We went over to University Village today for a few items and so that I could check out a new MacBook at the Apple store as I go through the process of picking out a new laptop.
The Apple store along with just about every other one was mobbed with people. Parking is always an adventure there as you weave among buildings and pedestrian crosswalks, but today it was a serious challenge.
Saw lots of bags and the Apple store was packed full of people so not sure if folks were just ready to be out after a week of being snowed in or if the retail spending fire is still burning a bit in this corner of the country.
It was also very cool to run into a few people we knew. One of the great things about Seattle is that it is not so big that you won't have a chance unplanned encounter with a friend when you are out and about.
I've got a stack of them so if you're interested in a Gist beta invite email me at robertcpease at gmail dot com or leave me a comment.
I continue to help the Gist team out as they work through the private beta process and am very impressed with both the product and team.
There is a new beta version released just before Santa arrived that includes full MS Outlook support, Twitter integration, and a whole host of other features that improve the information being served up about those you with whom you communicate.
Definitely check it out.
Merry Christmas everyone. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and time to focus on their families and loved ones. Here's one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite Christmas flicks– A Christmas Story.
Strong words from Jim Rogers regarding the current financial situation, where things are headed, and where to be going forward. I like him and take his point of view seriously although I balance it with a variety of others and suggest you do the same.
His main point? "Own the things where the fundamentals have not been impaired" and he thinks those are commodities, the Japanese Yen, and the Swiss Franc. Oh, and he warns of an inflation tsunami on the horizon due to the currency printing presses working overtime to inject liquidity globally.
I always enjoy the research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. They are out with their latest survey about the trends that will shape the future – The Future of the Internet III. It is lengthy (138 pages) but full of interesting things including pointing out a handful of trends/predictions as we march towards 2020. Here's a few highlights:
A few pics from the neighborhood this morning after Kirkland (and the rest of Seattle area) got a huge amount of snow. First pic is Market Street looking north, then a really nice snowman (found, not made by me) at Heritage Park, and then down by the Marina.
Sign of the times or fate that awaits all entrepreneurs turned venture capitalists turned masters of the universe?
Unfortunately, the folks at Blueprint Ventures decided to give Gary the boot and are not doing a Gary Snoman video this year. This is actually too bad because this clever approach definitely got these guys some attention.
C’mon guys, where’s that Holiday spirit?
As a tribute to all that Gary has done for us over the last three years, here’s the one that got it all started in 2005 as well as 2006 when Gary becomes a VC:
Nicely done video via the good folks at WallStreetFighter on the hedge fund game. We will surely look back on this period and wince at the idiocy and greed. Where was the oversight for "alternative investments" and those benefiting from the 2/20 model?
A look inside hedge funds from Marketplace on Vimeo.
Venture Vice 