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> The benefits of learning about the maze generally far outweigh the risks of having your idea stolen. Any evidence for that? Stealth mode seems to work pretty

by devgutt 13y ago

> The benefits of learning about the maze generally far outweigh the risks of having your idea stolen. Any evidence for that? Stealth mode seems to work pretty well in big companies

mashmac2 13y ago
I guess the argument would be that big companies already have people with extensive domain knowledge who are deep in the maze, and can afford to be stealthy because they already have 1. History, 3. Theories, and 4. Direct Experience.
- joeg8 13y ago
  The other part is big companies are likely pursuing sustaining or incremental improvements that are perhaps perceived as key to beating out well known incumbents. Startups are likely (read hopefully) pursuing disruptive improvements and might expect incumbents to make classic Innovator's Dilemma errors in assessing risk. I heard CDixon on PandoMonthly say his key founder questions would surround 'what's your secret?' I think his post provides more context to that line of questioning.
ghayes 13y ago
I believe it's just a different story for big companies. If you heard that Apple was creating "iShoes," you wouldn't be surprised that people were already making branded "iShoes Laces." If, however, I told you I was about to revolutionize the shoe industry, you would ask me how and be generally helpful in the discussion.
pbreit 13y ago
The author is an entrepreneur and vc...presumably drawing on a wealth of experience. The article is specifically about small, not big, companies. The whole meme of "evidence please" is annoying. A blog post is not a research paper.
- devgutt 13y ago
  This is not a meme, if can't back up EVERYTHING you claim, please, keep for yourself. Evidence is mandatory always, in any situation, no exception.
  - pbreit 13y ago
    Do you have any evidence to back up that assertion?
    - devgutt 13y ago
      yes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
pmarca 13y ago
Any evidence for that? We don't get to see the counterfactual of Apple being far more public about what they are building. And we have no idea whether their focus on secrecy is causation or correlation to their success.

by devgutt 13y ago

> The benefits of learning about the maze generally far outweigh the risks of having your idea stolen. Any evidence for that? Stealth mode seems to work pretty well in big companies

mashmac2 13y ago

I guess the argument would be that big companies already have people with extensive domain knowledge who are deep in the maze, and can afford to be stealthy because they already have 1. History, 3. Theories, and 4. Direct Experience.

joeg8 13y ago
The other part is big companies are likely pursuing sustaining or incremental improvements that are perhaps perceived as key to beating out well known incumbents. Startups are likely (read hopefully) pursuing disruptive improvements and might expect incumbents to make classic Innovator's Dilemma errors in assessing risk. I heard CDixon on PandoMonthly say his key founder questions would surround 'what's your secret?' I think his post provides more context to that line of questioning.

ghayes 13y ago

I believe it's just a different story for big companies. If you heard that Apple was creating "iShoes," you wouldn't be surprised that people were already making branded "iShoes Laces." If, however, I told you I was about to revolutionize the shoe industry, you would ask me how and be generally helpful in the discussion.

pbreit 13y ago

The author is an entrepreneur and vc...presumably drawing on a wealth of experience. The article is specifically about small, not big, companies. The whole meme of "evidence please" is annoying. A blog post is not a research paper.

devgutt 13y ago
This is not a meme, if can't back up EVERYTHING you claim, please, keep for yourself. Evidence is mandatory always, in any situation, no exception.
- pbreit 13y ago
  Do you have any evidence to back up that assertion?
  - devgutt 13y ago
    yes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

pmarca 13y ago

Any evidence for that? We don't get to see the counterfactual of Apple being far more public about what they are building. And we have no idea whether their focus on secrecy is causation or correlation to their success.