July 19th, 2013
October 23rd, 2012
August 11th, 2012

Yesware seems like a pretty neat tool… lots of my friends are in love with it!  It’s also always nice seeing a Boston-based company raising oodles of cash and rapidly expanding.

But, one problem: I really don’t want my friends to know exactly when - and where - I read their email.  It’s sorta creepy, you know?  Especially given the lack of transparency, as most people never know they are being tracked.

It’s kinda awkward socially

I have no problem with newsletters and marketing campaigns - i.e., people I don’t know - tracking whether or not I opened their email, along with where I am. Whatever.  No skin off my back.  But it’s a bit awkward when a friend goes, “Dude! I saw you opened my email yesterday! When the hell are you going to respond?!  And what were you doing in New York?!”  

Keep reading

  • May 5th, 2012

    Here’s an embarrassing fact: last November, when Nick Plante told me about the crowdfunding legislation in Congress, I thought the entire concept was idiotic. I envisioned thousands of scammy ‘investment opportunities’ posted on an eBay-like site, milking unsophisticated investors. Or, on the other side, I saw start-up founders struggling to manage hundreds of investors (along with a few crazies!)

    Luckily, the story didn’t end there - I couldn’t shake the idea out of my head. I’m foremost a startup founder, but I always WANTED to invest small amounts of money in my favorite startups. I imagined there must be many people who would love to place small bets, backing new innovations they felt important. Wouldn’t it be cool to have that feeling without needing millions of dollars?

    I don’t feel a sense of meaning when I buy a share of IBM - it’s purely a financial transaction. But startups? If I could support entrepreneurs trying to change the world, and still have a chance of earning a return… well, that’s value beyond money. I could give back. And that’s the key to making crowd investing work.

    Keep reading

  • April 3rd, 2012
  • March 5th, 2012

    Senator Brown, Congressman McHenry, and others talk about Crowdfunding. Thanks to Mass Challenge for hosting!

  • February 10th, 2012

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    I have to admit, I was once cynical about our government.  I was wrong.  

    We’ve spent the day meeting with the staffs of two Senators, a Congressman, and the President’s Office… And whether Republican or Democrat, I was impressed.  Behind the political theater - on the factory floor where the sausage gets made - are public servants who truly want to make a difference.  

    It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.  We’re a bunch of powerless and unknown guys who put up an online petition.  A couple of weeks later, we’re sitting in our nation’s capital, with lawmakers who are genuinely listening… and asking smart questions about how they can improve legislation that will affect 300 million odd people.  

    That’s pretty awesome.  

  • January 31st, 2012
    Wefunder: Day 1
  • October 21st, 2011
  • June 2nd, 2011
  • January 5th, 2011
  • January 1st, 2011
    Yeah… I finally have a blog! Maybe I should write something?
    Nick
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