Linux can't cure a stupid and it's not a medicine for stupidity

These were the words, i saw in one of the start up company, written on white board with some marker. I did talk to the person who wrote it.

Long story short :  

It was a start up company and the products on mac platform (Xserves). They got venture funding and was hiring best for making the best. The person controlling engineering was a Solaris fan and he was from a big company. 

As there is enough money the first plan was t make the product carrier grade and so first step is to port from mac to Solaris. The major problem was network guys were much comfortable with the disk imaging and back and restore procedures. Any way, they ordered a lot of Solaris machines and started porting. 

Porting on the way and they hired next engineering top person. He was from a big company and he said that the big company makes products in Linux and CTO was a fan of the "big company" decided to switch products to Linux. 

The company ordered a lot new machines and now again new installs , porting and no revenue ...  

This was the time the writing came to board.  

By this time one of the competitor went on some product related issues and the company was forced to withdraw all the products. Here we go .. 

The start up we were talking, run out of money and left with all the hardware and software they brought. No money for a future R&D for a product and not a new business plan. Tried hard with lot new block diagrams and plans from some hired talent to get more money in and failed.

Finally the start up got closed.  

Lets be back to 2 points :  

Skills you need for a start up is not that of a big organization.

Hire selectively if you need to survive.

In big organizations, i have met a lot people who don't have the skills to survive in a start up.  

Start up is a sort of lottery, lot are just surviving. Think how many times you got the bumper prize. Plans may be nice and mostly it's by somebody who don't have much idea but guts to start a business. it's not all about business, it has more things. Experience is also not the only thing to successes. This is for individuals, do you really have the drive to take you there ?

So think multiple times, if you want to switch to a start up career .I have a lot friends who started and then back to big business and have some people who still stick to the initial/revised plan and making small steps towards the future. There is a difference between process and innovation.

© yankandpaste®