Comments on: Twing: Accoona’s Final Disgrace. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/ Startup and Technology News Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:02:24 -0800 hourly 1 By: Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz | Techno Portal http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2830631 Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz | Techno Portal Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:05:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2830631 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: news.mussedigital.com » Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2766439 news.mussedigital.com » Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz Tue, 26 May 2009 14:16:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2766439 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz - Indometric http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2764805 Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz - Indometric Mon, 25 May 2009 05:01:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2764805 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz | UpOff.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2764779 Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz | UpOff.com Mon, 25 May 2009 03:54:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2764779 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz | koala eye http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2764718 Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz | koala eye Mon, 25 May 2009 02:08:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2764718 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2764712 Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz Mon, 25 May 2009 02:00:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2764712 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: Search-that: News for a 2.0 world !!! » Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2764696 Search-that: News for a 2.0 world !!! » Google@Omgili Mashes Traditional Web Search With Social Buzz Mon, 25 May 2009 01:29:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2764696 [...] many, many social/forum search engines - most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver - the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...] [...] many, many social/forum search engines – most of which have financially struggled or failed, see Twing and Delver – the Google mash gives this engine a much more interesting and useful [...]

]]> By: G http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2616070 G Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:26:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2616070 As a former employee of Accoona; I can tell you that the goose was cooked far before the economy tanked. Stop blaming it on the economy. I was basically told we had a given amount of time to show some revenue. The approximated amount of time would have meant put up by Aug 08 or we are done. The place was such an utter disaster that the plug got pulled well before that. Trouble was that this was an environment that promoted charlatans. It seemed to me that the worst characteristics that one can display in the corporate world and its respective social environment; where rewarded while openness and a desire to share innovation, creative thought and true intellectual approach where suppressed. i can tell you that the people I was surrounded with where the sorts I would not buy a tire from. There where one or two who made out like bandits and there where several more who thought they would as well. Tough shitt guys… aside from the crooked Frenchman and Val… everyone got screwed. I venture to guess that there was an underlying lack of morale that encouraged many to sit around and collect checks until the ball fell. This was exasperated by backstabbery in all quarters including the HR department and the thuggish clowns at exchange place. Trouble is that we where trying to be a media company that specializes in internet. Media buyers worth their salt have all been screwed at one time or another and simply put… we reeked really bad to our would be clientele. As a former employee of Accoona; I can tell you that the goose was cooked far before the economy tanked. Stop blaming it on the economy. I was basically told we had a given amount of time to show some revenue. The approximated amount of time would have meant put up by Aug 08 or we are done.

The place was such an utter disaster that the plug got pulled well before that.

Trouble was that this was an environment that promoted charlatans. It seemed to me that the worst characteristics that one can display in the corporate world and its respective social environment; where rewarded while openness and a desire to share innovation, creative thought and true intellectual approach where suppressed. i can tell you that the people I was surrounded with where the sorts I would not buy a tire from. There where one or two who made out like bandits and there where several more who thought they would as well. Tough shitt guys… aside from the crooked Frenchman and Val… everyone got screwed.

I venture to guess that there was an underlying lack of morale that encouraged many to sit around and collect checks until the ball fell. This was exasperated by backstabbery in all quarters including the HR department and the thuggish clowns at exchange place.

Trouble is that we where trying to be a media company that specializes in internet. Media buyers worth their salt have all been screwed at one time or another and simply put… we reeked really bad to our would be clientele.

]]> By: Former Accona dude http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2616069 Former Accona dude Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:25:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2616069 As a former employee of Accoona; I can tell you that the goose was cooked far before the economy tanked. Stop blaming it on the economy. I was basically told we had a given amount of time to show some revenue. The approximated amount of time would have meant put up by Aug 08 or we are done. The place was such an utter disaster that the plug got pulled well before that. Trouble was that this was an environment that promoted charlatans. It seemed to me that the worst characteristics that one can display in the corporate world and its respective social environment; where rewarded while openness and a desire to share innovation, creative thought and true intellectual approach where suppressed. i can tell you that the people I was surrounded with where the sorts I would not buy a tire from. There where one or two who made out like bandits and there where several more who thought they would as well. Tough shitt guys... aside from the crooked Frenchman and Val... everyone got screwed. I venture to guess that there was an underlying lack of morale that encouraged many to sit around and collect checks until the ball fell. This was exasperated by backstabbery in all quarters including the HR department and the thuggish clowns at exchange place. Trouble is that we where trying to be a media company that specializes in internet. Media buyers worth their salt have all been screwed at one time or another and simply put... we reeked really bad to our would be clientele. As a former employee of Accoona; I can tell you that the goose was cooked far before the economy tanked. Stop blaming it on the economy. I was basically told we had a given amount of time to show some revenue. The approximated amount of time would have meant put up by Aug 08 or we are done.

The place was such an utter disaster that the plug got pulled well before that.

Trouble was that this was an environment that promoted charlatans. It seemed to me that the worst characteristics that one can display in the corporate world and its respective social environment; where rewarded while openness and a desire to share innovation, creative thought and true intellectual approach where suppressed. i can tell you that the people I was surrounded with where the sorts I would not buy a tire from. There where one or two who made out like bandits and there where several more who thought they would as well. Tough shitt guys… aside from the crooked Frenchman and Val… everyone got screwed.

I venture to guess that there was an underlying lack of morale that encouraged many to sit around and collect checks until the ball fell. This was exasperated by backstabbery in all quarters including the HR department and the thuggish clowns at exchange place.

Trouble is that we where trying to be a media company that specializes in internet. Media buyers worth their salt have all been screwed at one time or another and simply put… we reeked really bad to our would be clientele.

]]> By: missingtwing http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2604578 missingtwing Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:45:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2604578 As an SEO, I was so excited about twing and still looking at this forum for over 2 months looking for an alternative. Any ideas. As an SEO, I was so excited about twing and still looking at this forum for over 2 months looking for an alternative. Any ideas.

]]> By: Twing Offers Forum Search and Community Buzz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2584246 Twing Offers Forum Search and Community Buzz Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:12:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2584246 [...] to add: Apparently Twing is no more as reported by Michael Arrington on TechCrunch December 1, 2008. Just wanted to be sure to let readers of this entry know why the link won’t [...] [...] to add: Apparently Twing is no more as reported by Michael Arrington on TechCrunch December 1, 2008. Just wanted to be sure to let readers of this entry know why the link won’t [...]

]]> By: wulfcry http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2576442 wulfcry Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:00:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2576442 Uhm there is still future for the accoona concept so stif up a lip people. Comparison to google is not fair a resemblance , Look you just have to be lucky I recently discovered Feedjit the story how those guy's build that is fucking awesome the live traffic the site does is fucking wicked. Get aggrevated build something you want and you'll see the rest fills itself. Uhm there is still future for the accoona concept so stif up a lip people. Comparison to google is not fair a resemblance , Look you just have to be lucky I recently discovered Feedjit the story how those guy’s build that is fucking awesome the live traffic the site does is fucking wicked. Get aggrevated build something you want and you’ll see the rest fills itself.

]]> By: Christa http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2575948 Christa Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:51:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2575948 I met them at their NY Web 2.0 booth in September. I met them at their NY Web 2.0 booth in September.

]]> By: Rafael da Costa http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2568838 Rafael da Costa Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:53:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2568838 Thanks Scott Germaise and Kevin Shea for giving me the opportunity at Twing.com . Thanks Scott Germaise and Kevin Shea for giving me the opportunity at Twing.com .

]]> By: Twingly Debuts BlogRank, Guess Who Leads The Top 100 | Q u a r a r a http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2568533 Twingly Debuts BlogRank, Guess Who Leads The Top 100 | Q u a r a r a Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:43:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2568533 [...] Twingly, not to be confused with Twing, doesn’t share much about the underlying technology and only says its ranking system focuses [...] [...] Twingly, not to be confused with Twing, doesn’t share much about the underlying technology and only says its ranking system focuses [...]

]]> By: Twingly Debuts BlogRank, Guess Who Leads The Top 100 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2568499 Twingly Debuts BlogRank, Guess Who Leads The Top 100 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:47:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2568499 [...] Twingly, not to be confused with Twing, doesn’t share much about the underlying technology and only says its ranking system focuses [...] [...] Twingly, not to be confused with Twing, doesn’t share much about the underlying technology and only says its ranking system focuses [...]

]]> By: Aron Richman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2556619 Aron Richman Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:15:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2556619 I don't have much to add - except that I am NOT any of the anonymous posters. I had a great time at Accoona. Scott and Kevin certainly made great efforts to keep us all aware of Twing's plans as well as solicit our input. The nameless flaming is ridiculous. We were a small group. Show some respect. I don’t have much to add – except that I am NOT any of the anonymous posters.

I had a great time at Accoona. Scott and Kevin certainly made great efforts to keep us all aware of Twing’s plans as well as solicit our input.

The nameless flaming is ridiculous. We were a small group. Show some respect.

]]> By: former employee http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2556584 former employee Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:28:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2556584 Agreed..it's over with and done, had fun working on the project while it lasted. Good luck Scott Agreed..it’s over with and done, had fun working on the project while it lasted. Good luck Scott

]]> By: huh http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2554095 huh Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:04:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2554095 I find it funny people are complaining about $300k/year as a CEO's salary these days, especially with what's going on on Wall Street. I find it funny people are complaining about $300k/year as a CEO’s salary these days, especially with what’s going on on Wall Street.

]]> By: Twing keeping track of trends through forums - Millionaire Entrepreneur Forum http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2554039 Twing keeping track of trends through forums - Millionaire Entrepreneur Forum Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:54:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2554039 [...] Re: Twing keeping track of trends through forums was wondering why nothing was showing up anymore Twing: Accoona’s Final Disgrace. [...] [...] Re: Twing keeping track of trends through forums was wondering why nothing was showing up anymore Twing: Accoona’s Final Disgrace. [...]

]]> By: Accoona - no opinion http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2553990 Accoona - no opinion Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:07:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2553990 I don't have an opinion about this subject, however if Accoona employees all have nothing better to do except to argue with people in forums, that may say it all. Get your resume out there, delete Accoona and hope for the best. I don’t have an opinion about this subject, however if Accoona employees all have nothing better to do except to argue with people in forums, that may say it all.

Get your resume out there, delete Accoona and hope for the best.

]]> By: another former employee http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2553970 another former employee Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:38:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2553970 Scott, You don't see the forest for the trees… Zamit was in on the scam. How many CEOs of struggling startup companies with no revenue make $300k in salary? No VCs would ever invest in a company where the CEO makes that kind of money and if Zamit was a good CEO he would know that. His main objective was to give the impression of trying to turn the mess around in order to keep getting money from the original investors a little while longer. Any legitimate and qualified CEO would never get in business with someone like Armand Rousso. He know what he was doing and you got sucked into his scam. You worked hard and I feel sorry for you and the rest of the people there who thought they had a chance at making something great. My recommendation is put this chapter of your career behind you, take your knowledge, hard work, dedication and next great idea and shop it around without the baggage of $300K CEO and a felon. Trying to defend criminals is a waste of your time. Scott,

You don’t see the forest for the trees… Zamit was in on the scam. How many CEOs of struggling startup companies with no revenue make $300k in salary? No VCs would ever invest in a company where the CEO makes that kind of money and if Zamit was a good CEO he would know that. His main objective was to give the impression of trying to turn the mess around in order to keep getting money from the original investors a little while longer. Any legitimate and qualified CEO would never get in business with someone like Armand Rousso. He know what he was doing and you got sucked into his scam.

You worked hard and I feel sorry for you and the rest of the people there who thought they had a chance at making something great.

My recommendation is put this chapter of your career behind you, take your knowledge, hard work, dedication and next great idea and shop it around without the baggage of $300K CEO and a felon. Trying to defend criminals is a waste of your time.

]]> By: Another For(u)mer Employee http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2553912 Another For(u)mer Employee Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:06:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2553912 Sadly, these comments show exactly the no-win situation that Twing was in. It is very important to separate out Twing on its own merits from the nightmare that was Accoona. Discussions about Accoona's fundraising efforts, hype in 2004, managment decisions, eCommerce division, etc., ought to be viewed separately from what Scott, Kevin and others did a great job of building. For all the morons that were hired, and all the shenanigans at the top, there were quite a few stellar people who did nothing but work hard on building something real. Sadly, it wasn't enough. Sadly, these comments show exactly the no-win situation that Twing was in.

It is very important to separate out Twing on its own merits from the nightmare that was Accoona. Discussions about Accoona’s fundraising efforts, hype in 2004, managment decisions, eCommerce division, etc., ought to be viewed separately from what Scott, Kevin and others did a great job of building. For all the morons that were hired, and all the shenanigans at the top, there were quite a few stellar people who did nothing but work hard on building something real. Sadly, it wasn’t enough.

]]> By: Scott Germaise http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2553872 Scott Germaise Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:05:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2553872 Actually, I have to defend my CEO here. Umm... former CEO that is. As I said in my first comment here, I can't speak to the apparently dark history at the parent Accoona company. Had I known about it, I'd not likely joined. In any case, I can say that I appreciate Val coming in to take over and try to recover something out of what was - prior to his taking the helm - already a train wreck. The NYT quote was unfortunate. And as is sometimes the case, out of context. Val answered a question in what he thought was maybe a jocular, self-deprecating way. In it's raw form as it was presented it was unfair. That's not to say he's a CEO that came from IT. He didn't. He's had a long and successful career in finance. At the risk of incurring the ire of Poetic, (big deal), I'll compare him to some others just as examples. While Jack Welch may have had early career expertise in chemical engineering, do you think he knew all the inner workings of a jet engine? Of course not. Lou Gerstner, called a cookie salesman at the time, turned around IBM. These are extreme examples. The point is it wasn't necessarily his job to be intimate with the tech. While it was his job to handle the CEO slot, there's only so much a helmsman can do when dropped on a ship with so many leaky compartments. He's to be commended for even making the attempt, regardless of the unfortunate outcome. Actually, I have to defend my CEO here. Umm… former CEO that is. As I said in my first comment here, I can’t speak to the apparently dark history at the parent Accoona company. Had I known about it, I’d not likely joined. In any case, I can say that I appreciate Val coming in to take over and try to recover something out of what was – prior to his taking the helm – already a train wreck. The NYT quote was unfortunate. And as is sometimes the case, out of context. Val answered a question in what he thought was maybe a jocular, self-deprecating way. In it’s raw form as it was presented it was unfair. That’s not to say he’s a CEO that came from IT. He didn’t. He’s had a long and successful career in finance. At the risk of incurring the ire of Poetic, (big deal), I’ll compare him to some others just as examples. While Jack Welch may have had early career expertise in chemical engineering, do you think he knew all the inner workings of a jet engine? Of course not. Lou Gerstner, called a cookie salesman at the time, turned around IBM. These are extreme examples. The point is it wasn’t necessarily his job to be intimate with the tech. While it was his job to handle the CEO slot, there’s only so much a helmsman can do when dropped on a ship with so many leaky compartments. He’s to be commended for even making the attempt, regardless of the unfortunate outcome.

]]> By: Former Employee http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/01/twing-accoonas-final-disgrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2553842 Former Employee Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:40:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=31283#comment-2553842 As a former employee of Accoona I applaud Kevin's and Scott's effort. Just like any manager they could have done things differently and probably would if they could. They worked very hard for something they believed in under very difficult circumstances. Even though they were not successful with the Twing business model, the overall Accoona business model was a huge success. The Founder, Marc Armand Rousso a.k.a the Crocodile was able to milk millions out the company through his "management consulting" company, SPD not to mention flipping his 60 million shares (he paid $6000 for the shares); Event the CEO, Val Zammit received 300k for knowing nothing about the technology. Just read the quote by Val in the New York Times. Accoona and Twing will go down in history as a very successful pump and dump stock fraud and money laundering operation. The business model should be studied for future generation of fraudsters or (FBI investigators). Kevin and Scott and a lot of other hard working people unwittingly contributed to a huge success. As a former employee of Accoona I applaud Kevin’s and Scott’s effort. Just like any manager they could have done things differently and probably would if they could. They worked very hard for something they believed in under very difficult circumstances. Even though they were not successful with the Twing business model, the overall Accoona business model was a huge success. The Founder, Marc Armand Rousso a.k.a the Crocodile was able to milk millions out the company through his “management consulting” company, SPD not to mention flipping his 60 million shares (he paid $6000 for the shares); Event the CEO, Val Zammit received 300k for knowing nothing about the technology. Just read the quote by Val in the New York Times. Accoona and Twing will go down in history as a very successful pump and dump stock fraud and money laundering operation. The business model should be studied for future generation of fraudsters or (FBI investigators). Kevin and Scott and a lot of other hard working people unwittingly contributed to a huge success.

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