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September 13, 2004
Digital ID World Schedule
The schedule of sessions for Digital ID World is out. There are some interesting talks and some good people. Looks like the conference will live up to its reputation.
10:29 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Why Working for Equity Can Be a Good Deal
A while ago, I sent a notice out asking if any developers were interested in working for equity on a Java-base P2P commerce system which I'm serving as an advisor on. Among some notes indicating interest, I received the following question:
So, if the business plan is good enough that the equity isn't worthless, why isn't there enough funding to pay a single developer's salary?
I can think of several reasons:
- Usually, before investors will put money into a deal, they want to see something, even a prototype, working. So, the business plan may be sound, but there could be very little cash laying around.
- Programmers can often see the potential of an online product before there's enough detail to attract investors because they live in this space.
- Even if investors are willing to put money into a deal, the higher the value of the company at the time you do the first (and successive) rounds, the less equity you give away for a given investment. A working prototype increases value.
- Programmers who have an ownership stake, especially early, can make a huge difference in terms of direction and vision. Programmers working part-time for money in a start-up typically don't have that kind of impact.
All of this means that programmers can make a big difference in early-stage firms and get a piece of the action for a relatively small investment in time. That's leverage.
02:42 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Internet Application Performance
One of the topics I try to discuss throughout the semester in my Engineering Large-Scale Internet Applications course is performance. It can be a difficult subject to discuss because of differences in terminology. I've put together a page on Internet application performance to serve as a resource on the topic. I'll be adding to it from time to time.
11:27 AM | Recommend This | Print This
Dave Barry on eVoting
Dave Barry's piece this week was on eVoting:
Inside the voting booth you'll find a ''touchscreen,'' which is a computer screen coated with a thin, invisible layer of germs left by all the people who voted ahead of you, many of whom use the sacred sanctity of the voting booth to pick their noses. When you touch this screen, tiny pieces of electricity called ''electrons'' go shooting into your finger, through your arm and into your brain, where they whiz around until they locate the name of the candidate you wish to vote for; they then transmit this information to Central Voting Command (located in India) along with any legally questionable thoughts you may have regarding terrorism, tax evasion or sexual fantasies featuring an armadillo and Wayne Newton.From Herald.com | 09/12/2004 | Low-carb leader will get my vote
Referenced Mon Sep 13 2004 07:12:55 GMT-0600
Remember to bring some antiseptic wipes with you to the polling booth.