Venture Captial Talks Tomorrow, RSS Feeds, and Blogs - 04/03/08

[Aaron Stanton]

After BookLamp launched, we were contacted by a VC firm called CrossLink Capital.  CrossLink is the VC firm that helped get Pandora.com, NetFlix, and TiVo off the ground.  While they're not the first VC firm that's reached out to us since this project began, they are the first we'll be talking to since we made the decision last week to take the project full time.

We'll be talking to them for the first time on the phone tomorrow afternoon.  Most likely, this is just an introduction; they'll chat with us to see whether we seem level-headed, and we'll aim to get a feel for what everyone brings to the table.  We've always considered VC funding, but now that we're investing ourselves a bit more fully, all our options are being evaluated with an eye towards action.  Most likely this will be a fairly casual first introduction, but that's how all things start.  We'll see how it goes.

We're in a fairly nice position that we don't need to take venture capital.  Doing so is an option, but not our only option, as we have the resources to take our time.

Also, we added a blog to BookLamp.org.  Now, more technical updates will appear on the site; CanGoogleHearMe.com will - for the most part - allow itself to branch off a little more into the personal.  BookLamp focused updates will appear here.  The blog will give us a central place to announce things like the Live discussions that will take place from time to time.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's about 7:02 p.m., and Lost is going to come on soon.  This is significant, since the programmer meetings have kept me out of the house for live Lost episodes for nearly 14 months now.  Going full time, getting up and going to work and coming home while there is still daylight out... well, I get to watch Lost again. 

Aaron

[Jo Red]

So, what's it like working full time on your grand idea ?  Is it more exciting than working in an office for someone else ?  Do you feel like a different person to the rest of us ? 

What's the best parts ?


What's the worst ?

Please let us know. Not many of us have had this experience.  That's what this is really all about isn't it ?  Not really just for the money,  but more like an adventure to see what it's like to be an enterpreneur.

Regards
Jo

[Soren Morton]

Wow. Congratulations. This is a major step! Do you have an idea of what you are going to concentrate on 1st (Book DB, functionality, partnerships, etc.)?

I wish you all the luck... just don't let the VC guys take all of your time so you can't work on the fun stuff .

[Stephen Rollins]

Just out of curiosity... where exactly is the blog located?  I guess I've never really tried looking for it but I've never seen anyone say where, either.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's about 7:02 p.m., and Lost is going to come on soon.  This is significant, since the programmer meetings have kept me out of the house for live Lost episodes for nearly 14 months now.  Going full time, getting up and going to work and coming home while there is still daylight out... well, I get to watch Lost again. 

[Mandi Taylor]

It's on the main booklamp.org page.

http://beta.booklamp.org/#blogid

(But it hardly counts as a blog...  It's just links to forum posts.   )

[Andy]

I think this is part of it, but it says on the what weve done today post that paul is gonna work on making it more of an actual blog!

Does anyone think that they should call up something else, not blog but work updates or change log or something!

[Aaron Stanton]

Man, you guys are picky.    We actually put a fair amount of time in making the blog items (site updates, etc, whatever you want to call them) from the headings that are created by Paul or I in the Site Update area of the forum.  We figured it's just a place to post updates that's not buried deep in the forums, but provides for a robust feedback element.

Think about it - you can discuss whatever update there is much more fluidly than a more traditional blog.  Besides, we still have a more traditional blog structure at CanGoogleHearMe.com, if that suites your fancy. 

Anyway, the main goal was to create a place that we could post site-specific news, like the times for live broadcasts, etc, and have more people see it than just one or two that are digging deep into the forums.

That's the idea, at least.  Serves the purpose for the moment.

Aaron

[Andy]

suppose youve got a point, it is nice that we can comment on the updates

[Mandi Taylor]

Don't get me wrong; I wasn't complaining.  I was just thinking of it as "the site updates board".  Which is what it is.  Which is fine.

[Aaron Stanton]

[Stephen Rollins]

We figured it's just a place to post updates that's not buried deep in the forums, but provides for a robust feedback element.

You'll still put that sort of information on the forums though, right?  Because I for one actually would find it more convenient to dig deep into the forums and only have to go to one place for all the information I'm looking for.  XD

[Aaron Stanton]

That's the way it currently works.  When we post to the forms in the right location (site updates) the thread title and first post is pulled and displayed on the front page.  So, it'll still be in the forums and the front page blog, both.  No worries.

Aaron

[Andy]

Its really nice being able to discuss the project, ideas and developments and with the developer too. I for one feel like it makes us part of the project more and feel like our ideas are really being taken on board. Other projects have suggestion 'boxes' but dont seem to take any notice.

This seems brilliant cause there is more of a social aspect to a non social driven project!

[Stephen Rollins]

Alright, that's good to know then, Aaron, thanks!

I agree, I like being able to discuss the project and know that the people in charge are listening in.  And talking back, as well! 

[Therin]

This brings to mind one of Aaron's own complaints back in Chapter One, I believe (don't quote me).  About how Google's feedback and submit your idea sheets requested less information concerning your idea than a fast food chain asked about how you liked their burgers.

This really does feel like our suggestions are not just falling into an administrative junk filter.   

So thanks!