Not sure if you meant founding or funding. I'm assuming funding.
I was one of the many that thought "meh, rsync" about dropbox. I still do. About the technology.
To be honest, I don't think I gave the business side much thought at the time (I hadn't given much thought to the idea of a sustainable business, other than "make more than you spend"). That said, I think it was obvious to me even before the success how this could be a product people would pay to use. It's crap (for my use cases) -- but it is useful.
Funding mediocrity isn't bad. Funding is about returns -- not beauty.
And talking about founding: I think founding mediocrity is genius. You just have to find un-serviced mediocrity. Like dropbox. Awful idea - but also great idea. Crappy tech (see: security holes).
But it works. People leverage dropbox to increase their productivity. That is great stuff. I'm not sure if it makes me a worse or better developer to think that I'm happy I didn't make dropbox. But I'm certain it makes me a worse business person. I'm fine with that -- but I can still recognize success in that arena.
Sorry, should've been more clear--I mean, there is a focus on having non-mediocre engineers and sales folks, but it doesn't seem like that same lack of charity extends to the cofounder clubhouse.
I was one of the many that thought "meh, rsync" about dropbox. I still do. About the technology.
To be honest, I don't think I gave the business side much thought at the time (I hadn't given much thought to the idea of a sustainable business, other than "make more than you spend"). That said, I think it was obvious to me even before the success how this could be a product people would pay to use. It's crap (for my use cases) -- but it is useful.
Funding mediocrity isn't bad. Funding is about returns -- not beauty.
And talking about founding: I think founding mediocrity is genius. You just have to find un-serviced mediocrity. Like dropbox. Awful idea - but also great idea. Crappy tech (see: security holes).
But it works. People leverage dropbox to increase their productivity. That is great stuff. I'm not sure if it makes me a worse or better developer to think that I'm happy I didn't make dropbox. But I'm certain it makes me a worse business person. I'm fine with that -- but I can still recognize success in that arena.