Comments on: Edgeio Bids Start At $250,000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/ Startup and Technology News Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:44:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The classified puzzle « RobWebb2k http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-2424848 The classified puzzle « RobWebb2k Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:27:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-2424848 [...] classified service has been less than stellar (I can’t even find a link to it right now) and Edgeio has been shuttered while Craigslist and eBay continue to dominate the all-in-one classified [...] [...] classified service has been less than stellar (I can’t even find a link to it right now) and Edgeio has been shuttered while Craigslist and eBay continue to dominate the all-in-one classified [...]

]]> By: Edgeio Assets Acquired By LookSmart http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-2301608 Edgeio Assets Acquired By LookSmart Fri, 16 May 2008 19:41:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-2301608 [...] auction of Edgeio’s assets is complete, and Looksmart is the winning bidder. They’ve acquired most of the assets of the [...] [...] auction of Edgeio’s assets is complete, and Looksmart is the winning bidder. They’ve acquired most of the assets of the [...]

]]> By: Joe Hunkins http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1864715 Joe Hunkins Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:13:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1864715 Edgeio was a great idea but several years ahead of its time. I blogged about this demise at Edgio's launch but it's sad to see great ideas with a lot of potential go up in smoke. I think Looksmart got an incredible deal if they scale back a bit and wait for the concept to be more accessible - probably in 2 years when blogs are totally mainstream. Edgeio was a great idea but several years ahead of its time. I blogged about this demise at Edgio’s launch but it’s sad to see great ideas with a lot of potential go up in smoke.

I think Looksmart got an incredible deal if they scale back a bit and wait for the concept to be more accessible - probably in 2 years when blogs are totally mainstream.

]]> By: StartupBuySell http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1862433 StartupBuySell Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:55:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1862433 I guess my question is, who is next on auction block? Digg.com? I guess my question is, who is next on auction block? Digg.com?

]]> By: How MC turns $5M into $250,000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1862424 How MC turns $5M into $250,000 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:50:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1862424 I think someone need to write a book of how MC turns $5M into $250,000 ;) MC, you are not alone, we all learn from our mistakes. I hope you can share your lessons learned. Please post it as comment. Thnx I think someone need to write a book of how MC turns $5M into $250,000 ;)

MC, you are not alone, we all learn from our mistakes. I hope you can share your lessons learned. Please post it as comment.

Thnx

]]> By: Papashango http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1840883 Papashango Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:00:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1840883 "And frankly, I wouldn’t have covered this story since it’s non-news. Duncan picked it up and ran with it over night." Ya, right :D “And frankly, I wouldn’t have covered this story since it’s non-news. Duncan picked it up and ran with it over night.”

Ya, right :D

]]> By: RealVision http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1837146 RealVision Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:35:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1837146 It's always sad when something innovative goes down :( I can only hope that it was not because of money being mis-spent etc.. If it was just a bad business plan, its very forgivable, and all the best to the folks behind it. keep at it, an idea will pan out eventually. (look what i had started... Internet TV and live video in 2000? that was a bummer! http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.catchuslive.tv) when broadband speeds meant isdn 128k :-) I only discovered edgeio's demise today when i downloaded the classifieds plugin for wordpress (ironically im on the verge of doing something related to classifieds using yet unproven methods.. ummm.. no VC funding ;-) Cheers! It’s always sad when something innovative goes down :( I can only hope that it was not because of money being mis-spent etc..

If it was just a bad business plan, its very forgivable, and all the best to the folks behind it. keep at it, an idea will pan out eventually.

(look what i had started… Internet TV and live video in 2000? that was a bummer! http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.catchuslive.tv) when broadband speeds meant isdn 128k :-)

I only discovered edgeio’s demise today when i downloaded the classifieds plugin for wordpress
(ironically im on the verge of doing something related to classifieds using yet unproven methods.. ummm.. no VC funding ;-)

Cheers!

]]> By: Steve Ballmer http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836865 Steve Ballmer Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:32:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836865 ... we got most of the furniture for our new Huston office. http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com … we got most of the furniture for our new Huston office.

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

]]> By: Gavin Schulz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836351 Gavin Schulz Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:12:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836351 This auction is looking worse and worse each day. This auction is looking worse and worse each day.

]]> By: jamboree http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836284 jamboree Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:35:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836284 @ Keith Off topic but what made you go with China as opposed to India in your outsourcing. Did you have any trouble with the communication aspects? @ Keith

Off topic but what made you go with China as opposed to India in your outsourcing. Did you have any trouble with the communication aspects?

]]> By: jonathan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836276 jonathan Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:30:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836276 plentyoffish serves 1.2B pageview with 3 servers. edgeio servces 8M with 60 servers??? is it the worst engineering team or what? plentyoffish serves 1.2B pageview with 3 servers. edgeio servces 8M with 60 servers???

is it the worst engineering team or what?

]]> By: Mike P. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836166 Mike P. Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:13:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1836166 edgeio, good luck getting anything for that pile of junk. 60 servers, $200 a piece, I'll give you 12K. Merry Christmas edgeio, good luck getting anything for that pile of junk. 60 servers, $200 a piece, I’ll give you 12K.

Merry Christmas

]]> By: Giovani Spagnolo http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835901 Giovani Spagnolo Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:37:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835901 I think the auction is not the best move for edgeio. I don't know your position about what I'll propose here, but I hope you read the following lines with an open mind, I'll try to be short. Instead of doing an auction and practically killing what could be a successful classified advertising platform you could do a very important move for the web2.0 history: release it under the *new* FSF GNU Affero GPLv3 license (http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/agpl-3.0.html) - please read about that. Why? Because this license extends the rights of the "normal" gpl to remote web users, which means that if anyone improves edgeio and makes it available online, they should provide a link to the new source code, thus generating a positive improvement cycle on web applications (just like gplv2 did for desktop applications years ago). That's amazing now, because as you might know, successful free softwares are mostly "generic" platforms serving different markets (openoffice, firefox, mysql, pidgin, gimp...), and edgeio has yet no parallel in the free software world (just a matter of time tough). This combination could lead edgeio to a renaissance in the hands of passionate developers willing to improve the system, and would enable current users to stick with their current system (maybe ask for donations - build a foundation like mozilla does) and prevent advertisers from running away before the auction finishes. Along with this changes, the need to provide support and related services will come (if still your interest or interest of your past employees) or - at least - you'll just get some free publicity (which will probably worth more than $250,000) and a very good image around the world for your future startups. I hope you think about it seriously... Best Regards, Giovani Spagnolo http://www.webyes.com.br http://www.tvgio.com I think the auction is not the best move for edgeio. I don’t know your position about what I’ll propose here, but I hope you read the following lines with an open mind, I’ll try to be short.

Instead of doing an auction and practically killing what could be a successful classified advertising platform you could do a very important move for the web2.0 history: release it under the *new* FSF GNU Affero GPLv3 license (http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/agpl-3.0.html) - please read about that.

Why? Because this license extends the rights of the “normal” gpl to remote web users, which means that if anyone improves edgeio and makes it available online, they should provide a link to the new source code, thus generating a positive improvement cycle on web applications (just like gplv2 did for desktop applications years ago).

That’s amazing now, because as you might know, successful free softwares are mostly “generic” platforms serving different markets (openoffice, firefox, mysql, pidgin, gimp…), and edgeio has yet no parallel in the free software world (just a matter of time tough).

This combination could lead edgeio to a renaissance in the hands of passionate developers willing to improve the system, and would enable current users to stick with their current system (maybe ask for donations - build a foundation like mozilla does) and prevent advertisers from running away before the auction finishes. Along with this changes, the need to provide support and related services will come (if still your interest or interest of your past employees) or - at least - you’ll just get some free publicity (which will probably worth more than $250,000) and a very good image around the world for your future startups.

I hope you think about it seriously…
Best Regards,

Giovani Spagnolo
http://www.webyes.com.br
http://www.tvgio.com

]]> By: Michael Arrington http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835873 Michael Arrington Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:14:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835873 Alex - you clearly don't understand how these things work. My equity has been wiped out, and it would take something like a $10+ million sale before any money came to the common. This sale is to pay back creditors, and anything else will go to the venture guys. I have no financial interest in Edgeio moving forward. And frankly, I wouldn't have covered this story since it's non-news. Duncan picked it up and ran with it over night. Alex - you clearly don’t understand how these things work. My equity has been wiped out, and it would take something like a $10+ million sale before any money came to the common. This sale is to pay back creditors, and anything else will go to the venture guys. I have no financial interest in Edgeio moving forward. And frankly, I wouldn’t have covered this story since it’s non-news. Duncan picked it up and ran with it over night.

]]> By: thomas http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835860 thomas Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:07:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835860 “We have an intelligent facet extraction system that normalizes the data and provides structure for front end structured search.” page scraper? thats neat. “We have an intelligent facet extraction system that normalizes the data and provides structure for front end structured search.”

page scraper? thats neat.

]]> By: Keith Teare http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835835 Keith Teare Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:52:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835835 A few more answers: <b>If it is worth $6m why don't I buy it</b> If I can find a backer to help me bid I would consider that. I can't think of a whole lot that is better than acquiring 3 years of effort in a large market ($50 bn US and $200 bn worldwide) and, staring with 100% of the equity when it is ready to go to market. Anybody reading who would put up $2-3m for 30% of a newco should contact me. keith [at] edgeio dot com. Of course if that was to happen I would disclose it and be transparent. Right now I am not a bidder because i do not have the cash. And my role is to maximize the return for my investors. <b> With the engineers gone it isn't worth as much</b> Myself, Matt Kaufman (head of engineering) and Vidar Hokstad (head of operations and most senior engineer) are still together working with bidders in the auction to provide answers etc. We had 6 engineers in Beijing who will still be available. And several of the other 6 may still be available on 12/21 when the auction ends. Again, hope that helps clarify. Keith Teare ceo/edgeio A few more answers:

If it is worth $6m why don’t I buy it

If I can find a backer to help me bid I would consider that. I can’t think of a whole lot that is better than acquiring 3 years of effort in a large market ($50 bn US and $200 bn worldwide) and, staring with 100% of the equity when it is ready to go to market. Anybody reading who would put up $2-3m for 30% of a newco should contact me. keith [at] edgeio dot com. Of course if that was to happen I would disclose it and be transparent. Right now I am not a bidder because i do not have the cash. And my role is to maximize the return for my investors.

With the engineers gone it isn’t worth as much

Myself, Matt Kaufman (head of engineering) and Vidar Hokstad (head of operations and most senior engineer) are still together working with bidders in the auction to provide answers etc. We had 6 engineers in Beijing who will still be available. And several of the other 6 may still be available on 12/21 when the auction ends.

Again, hope that helps clarify.

Keith Teare
ceo/edgeio

]]> By: calc http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835644 calc Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:47:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835644 Sad to see the demise of this site before reaching it's full potential. Sad to see the demise of this site before reaching it’s full potential.

]]> By: Aidan Henry http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835486 Aidan Henry Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:08:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835486 Man... this is sad to see. I met some great people from Edgeio. It's too bad it didn't work out :( Plus it's Michael's baby... on sale for only $250,000 to start? I sure hope it goes for much more than that. Cheers, Aidan www.MappingTheWeb.com Man… this is sad to see. I met some great people from Edgeio. It’s too bad it didn’t work out :(

Plus it’s Michael’s baby… on sale for only $250,000 to start? I sure hope it goes for much more than that.

Cheers,
Aidan
http://www.MappingTheWeb.com

]]> By: Paul http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835426 Paul Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:34:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835426 can anyone explain how come they get so many mliions uniques a month and they still are just 37,000 on alexa? And by the way, Michael dissapeared? can anyone explain how come they get so many mliions uniques a month and they still are just 37,000 on alexa?

And by the way, Michael dissapeared?

]]> By: elegance http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835333 elegance Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:27:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835333 OK I've bought and set my latest venture called TheArringtonTouch, We have one of these thingies ... “We have an intelligent facet extraction system that normalizes the data and provides structure for front end structured search.” http://TheArringtonTouch.com OK I’ve bought and set my latest venture called TheArringtonTouch,

We have one of these thingies …

“We have an intelligent facet extraction system that normalizes the data and provides structure for front end structured search.”

http://TheArringtonTouch.com

]]> By: Alex http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835295 Alex Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:51:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835295 Arrington, You've been mentioning a lot of your investments lately. Now you're even trying to hawk the ones you've deadpooled. Just so you know, this is post-post-modern internet culture now, and we all know that just because you introduce your association with a company in the lead paragraph of a story you are covering does not anymore clear you of shamelessly trying to recoup some lost funds. From now on, in the sake of your trademark honesty, you should perhaps preamble such attempts with: I am now going to shamelessly try to fundraise for a company I personally am associated with - that would be honesty. Anyhoo, from one honest bloke to another, Tally Ho! We're all reading you closely out here in C Space, Alex Arrington,

You’ve been mentioning a lot of your investments lately. Now you’re even trying to hawk the ones you’ve deadpooled.

Just so you know, this is post-post-modern internet culture now, and we all know that just because you introduce your association with a company in the lead paragraph of a story you are covering does not anymore clear you of shamelessly trying to recoup some lost funds.

From now on, in the sake of your trademark honesty, you should perhaps preamble such attempts with: I am now going to shamelessly try to fundraise for a company I personally am associated with - that would be honesty.

Anyhoo, from one honest bloke to another, Tally Ho!

We’re all reading you closely out here in C Space,

Alex

]]> By: nick of cebu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835282 nick of cebu Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:39:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835282 Reading Keith Teare's comment (#63) I see that a lot of care was taken to do it right, and I do feel your pain. At the same time it is hard not to feel smug about the fact that my listings engine, which got all of $1,000 in funding, is still standing and growing, while a $6 million project crashed and burned. Editor Arrington, now that the conflict of interest is well and truly over, wouldn't this be a good time to cover ALL the real estate listing portals, including mine (even if it is Web 1.0)? Just a suggestion. Reading Keith Teare’s comment (#63) I see that a lot of care was taken to do it right, and I do feel your pain. At the same time it is hard not to feel smug about the fact that my listings engine, which got all of $1,000 in funding, is still standing and growing, while a $6 million project crashed and burned.

Editor Arrington, now that the conflict of interest is well and truly over, wouldn’t this be a good time to cover ALL the real estate listing portals, including mine (even if it is Web 1.0)? Just a suggestion.

]]> By: Greg http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835200 Greg Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:13:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835200 I agree with @67 Why the need to sell in one weeks time? - is it the investors want the write down for tax purposes in '07? ....will get a huge bargain at almost any price up to $6m. Why start the auction at $250k if you believe it's worth 7 figures? Have you been retained by the investors to sell the assets? I agree with @67

Why the need to sell in one weeks time? - is it the investors want the write down for tax purposes in ‘07?

….will get a huge bargain at almost any price up to $6m.

Why start the auction at $250k if you believe it’s worth 7 figures?

Have you been retained by the investors to sell the assets?

]]> By: Ted Murphy http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835193 Ted Murphy Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:09:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835193 Hey guys, We at IZEA are willing to pay $5 million to buy Edgeio. But we do not want to hurt Michael Arrington and his loyal readers by doing this. Last time, the readers rejected our offer to advertise on TC. If the readers do not mind this time around, I am very much willing to buy Edgeio. After all, Michael is a nice buddy of mine. Hey guys,

We at IZEA are willing to pay $5 million to buy Edgeio. But we do not want to hurt Michael Arrington and his loyal readers by doing this. Last time, the readers rejected our offer to advertise on TC. If the readers do not mind this time around, I am very much willing to buy Edgeio. After all, Michael is a nice buddy of mine.

]]> By: just in case http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835059 just in case Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:19:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/edgeio-bids-start-at-250000/#comment-1835059 @63: "This system also caches listings from eBay, Amazon and CafePress (about 120m listings)." Depending on what you're caching from Amazon (and probably eBay/Cafepress) it may violate their T&C unless you've got partnerships w/ them. Might want to make mention of such partnerships/deals in your wiki. @63: “This system also caches listings from eBay, Amazon and CafePress (about 120m listings).”

Depending on what you’re caching from Amazon (and probably eBay/Cafepress) it may violate their T&C unless you’ve got partnerships w/ them.

Might want to make mention of such partnerships/deals in your wiki.

]]>