Backwards I came to an interesting conclusion about Return Path recently. We’re building our business backwards, at least according to what I have observed over time as the natural course of events for a startup. Here are a few examples of what I mean by that. Most companies build organically for years…then start acquiring others. We’ve done it backwards. In the first 9 years of our company’s life, we acquired 8 other businesses (SmartBounce, Veripost, Re-Route, NetCreations, Assurance Systems, GasPedal Consulting, Bonded Sender, Habeas). Since then, we’ve acquired none. There are a bunch of reasons why we front loaded M&A: we were working hard to morph our business model to achieve maximum success during the first internet downturn, we knew…
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M&A
Playing Offense vs. Playing Defense
Playing Offense vs. Playing Defense I hate playing defense in business. It doesn’t happen all the time. But being behind a competitor in terms of feature development, scrambling to do custom work for a large client, or doing an acquisition because you’re getting blocked out of an emerging space – whatever it is, it just feels rotten when it comes up. It’s someone else dictating your strategy, tactics, and resource allocation; their agenda, not yours. It’s a scramble. And when the work is done, it’s hard to feel great about it, even if it’s required and well done. That said, sometimes you don’t have a choice and have to play defense. Playing offense, of course, is what it’s all about. …
Lighten Up!
Lighten Up! As with Brad, I love a good rant, and Dave McClure’s wild one this week about how VCs and Lawyers Need to Simplify, Innovate, and Automate is fantastic. I have a roughly 3 foot shelf in my office that has all the bound paper documentation for the financings and M&A we’ve done here over the years and have always felt like it’s an enormous waste on many levels. The insanity of the faxes, zillions of signatures, original copies, and triplicates is overwhelming. But the core of the rant is a beautiful and simple suggestion that those who invest in lightweight technology companies and automation platforms should learn how to use just those technologies in their own businesses. I…