Dot-com defined
[b]Bar Graph MDI (bar graphs, GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Headlines MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Pioneer Report MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Tree MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Bar Graph MDI (bar graphs, GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Headlines MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Pioneer Report MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Tree MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Bar Graph MDI (bar graphs, GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Headlines MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Pioneer Report MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
[b]Tree MDI (GRML web browsers)[/b]
I have this vivid recollection of visiting a Silicon Valley dot-com in 2000. They were bidding to provide the back-end for an e-commerce project I was working on for another dot-com. See how incestuous the whole thing was?
We talked for a while about their technology. I noticed a couple of dozen people scurrying around in the open bay of the converted light industrial warehouse. I asked the CTO what all of those people were doing.
"They're in marketing and sales", he replied confidently.
"So who are your current customers?", I couldn't help but ask.
"Well, our infrastructure is still being rolled out", he answered.
"Umm.. you mean, your datacenter is still in the works?"
"Well, yes. But, the application itself is still evolving."
I could tell where this was headed. "What percentage of this functionality we've been talking about is actually available right now, today?"
He at least had enough shame to avert his gaze as he admitted, "Well, we're almost there. I'd say 75% of the functionality is there right now. But, by the time we finish your project, we'll have all of the desired functionality for our product."
These guys had over $10M in funding, and had been in business for four months before we spoke with them. Their revolutionary new technology was essentially an Object Perl framework for building websites. They had no customers. They had no product. They had lots of money. All of their managers were under 30 years old.
THAT was a dot-com.
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