...And Google Begat...

[Monk BANzai]

The search giant's former employees are seeding tech startups—and shaping another wave of innovation



During the holidays last year, Aydin Senkut and Elad Gil gathered 50 of their friends at a health-food restaurant in Palo Alto. Over turkey burgers and tofu wraps, they talked about tech trends and how to get rich. Or, more precisely, how to get richer.

Senkut, Gil, and their dining circle are alumni of Google (GOOG), one of the greatest engines of wealth creation the U.S. has ever known. Since going public six years ago, Google has generated more than $170 billion for its employees and investors. Many of the millionaires the company has produced are young, wired into the latest developments in tech, and at ease with risk. Which explains why so many Google alums—including many of those at Senkut and Gil's gatherings—are active angel investors, attempting to add another zero to their bank accounts and another innovative company to their list of accomplishments. "I feel like we have such a strong network, it's almost like we've recreated Google outside of the Google walls," says Andrea Zurek, a 39-year-old backer of 26 startups.

More than 40 ex-Googlers have invested in about 200 fledgling companies since 2005, according to the research firm YouNoodle and reporting by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. At least a half dozen current Google executives, including CEO Eric Schmidt and co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are also financing young companies. Numerous angel-watchers say the Google group has more in common than just pedigree. Unlike many venture capitalists, the Googlers like to swap investment ideas and back startups together. They're also willing to take big chances. "[They're getting into] very risky deals that can be extremely rewarding," says Jeff Clavier, a veteran venture capitalist who founded Palo Alto-based SoftTech VC in 2004. "They have been very active as a group over the past two to three years."

more here..
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 637367.htm

(im sure with enough thought, this model can be applied here....)

[PapaC]

Interesting read.

[ravi4001]

point to note guys

more risk= more reward

[VexXx Dogg]

Very interesting but i think this model cannot work locally. I could be wrong tho...

1. Everyone wants to shine individually, thus get credit. Trini's love the limelight
2. Crab in barrel - spinoff of point 1.
3. Most graduates locally expect big salaries as soon as they leave uni.
4. We have the talent, but no investors willing to jump into tech startups.
5. IT in trinidad is purely developmental. When most persons hear someone is in IT they automatically assume "or hor, so you does fix computa an ting"
6. Most young people have piss poor work ethic. The term "extra mile" is a foreign concept.

[Notorious Scullman]

^^I think there are many exceptions to what you posted. Not that I dispute their validity

[VexXx Dogg]

^^I think there are many exceptions to what you posted. Not that I dispute their validity

There are many exceptions, yes.
However, the exceptions are rare compared to norm.

I for one will applaud and support a true local effort.

[eliteauto]

Very interesting but i think this model cannot work locally. I could be wrong tho...

1. Everyone wants to shine individually, thus get credit. Trini's love the limelight
2. Crab in barrel - spinoff of point 1.
3. Most graduates locally expect big salaries as soon as they leave uni.
4. We have the talent, but no investors willing to jump into tech startups.
5. IT in trinidad is purely developmental. When most persons hear someone is in IT they automatically assume "or hor, so you does fix computa an ting"
6. Most young people have piss poor work ethic. The term "extra mile" is a foreign concept.

this applies to most startups or entrepreneurial ideas locally unless you're very lucky to get funding through lending institutions or NEDCO, Angel Investors are almost non existent locally ( your family friend or link doesn't count)

^^I think there are many exceptions to what you posted. Not that I dispute their validity

also true, but work ethic, understanding deferred gratification, and knowing service is not servitude seem to elude many Trinis