http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/ Spurring innovation and entrepreneurship. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:01:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-347461 Fail Fast! « The DEW View! Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:29:20 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-347461 [...] my own ’startup’ experiences; the most cathartic of which was a post I wrote in 2005 titled “LayerOne: My Biggest Failure!“  Around 1,000 people read the post back then, but my readership has grown in the last three [...] [...] my own ’startup’ experiences; the most cathartic of which was a post I wrote in 2005 titled “LayerOne: My Biggest Failure!“  Around 1,000 people read the post back then, but my readership has grown in the last three [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-347417 Brad Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:48:51 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-347417 From an employee stand point it was painful at the time, along with the whole telecom bubble bursting. However, over the course of time you realize what a great ride and opportunity we had and how much it taught most of us in management. Would I do it again..you bet. A faint heart wins no battles. From an employee stand point it was painful at the time, along with the whole telecom bubble bursting. However, over the course of time you realize what a great ride and opportunity we had and how much it taught most of us in management.
Would I do it again..you bet. A faint heart wins no battles.

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-347360 How I lost $20,000,000+ in 18 months! : Texas Startup Blog Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:46:41 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-347360 [...] experiences; the most cathartic of which was a post I wrote in 2005 titled “LayerOne: My Biggest Failure!“  Around 1,000 people read the post back then, but my readership has grown in the last three [...] [...] experiences; the most cathartic of which was a post I wrote in 2005 titled “LayerOne: My Biggest Failure!“  Around 1,000 people read the post back then, but my readership has grown in the last three [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-346916 crawlspace|media » Blog Archive » Failure Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:29:48 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-346916 [...] ability to dissect and distill failure, they an innate ability to make their failings relevant and a learning exercise. I’m not one of those people. I believe it’s usually pretty obvious why something [...] [...] ability to dissect and distill failure, they an innate ability to make their failings relevant and a learning exercise. I’m not one of those people. I believe it’s usually pretty obvious why something [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-343670 SMU Business Plan Competition Tomorrow : Texas Startup Blog Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:38:37 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-343670 [...] ‘do entrepreneurs still write business plans?’  The last business plan I wrote was for LayerOne ~ I think I wrote 100 different versions of the darned document.  I have no idea how many [...] [...] ‘do entrepreneurs still write business plans?’  The last business plan I wrote was for LayerOne ~ I think I wrote 100 different versions of the darned document.  I have no idea how many [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-340569 Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code : Texas Startup Blog Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:21:23 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-340569 [...] took advantage of Section 363 of the United Stated Bankruptcy Code.  In the first case it was my own company and as managers we were able to serve as the ’stalking horse’ providing the DIP (i.e. [...] [...] took advantage of Section 363 of the United Stated Bankruptcy Code.  In the first case it was my own company and as managers we were able to serve as the ’stalking horse’ providing the DIP (i.e. [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-199875 Texas Startup Blog: Web 2.0 and Social Media by Alexander Muse » Blog Archive » When the backup fails. . . Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:58:48 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-199875 [...] Back in the day when I was running colocation facilities I recall a very similar situation.  Our facility located in 2323 Bryan ran on a huge generator.  We would test the system under load each month (as 365 Main claims to do), but early after opening the facility we had an actual power disruption (i.e. unplanned).  The generators failed to start.  Evidently the contractor who installed the generator made a very simple, but hard to find mistake that caused the system to fail under certain circumstances.  We had thrown the switch to cut off building power several times to make sure everything was working properly, but never simulated the conditions an actual failure would cause.  Fortunately we only had a few customers in the facility by the time we learned about our generator’s issues. [...] [...] Back in the day when I was running colocation facilities I recall a very similar situation.  Our facility located in 2323 Bryan ran on a huge generator.  We would test the system under load each month (as 365 Main claims to do), but early after opening the facility we had an actual power disruption (i.e. unplanned).  The generators failed to start.  Evidently the contractor who installed the generator made a very simple, but hard to find mistake that caused the system to fail under certain circumstances.  We had thrown the switch to cut off building power several times to make sure everything was working properly, but never simulated the conditions an actual failure would cause.  Fortunately we only had a few customers in the facility by the time we learned about our generator’s issues. [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-67322 Texas Startup Blog: Web 2.0 and Social Media » Blog Archive » Note to Patrick Scoble: Do some research first! Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:45:52 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-67322 [...] LayerOne Inc., which calls itself the first optical transport exchange, offers quick and simple provisioning of local and long-haul circuits among multiple carriers via neutral optical distribution nodes at carrier hotels. LayerOne had more than a dozen exchange sites in place at year’s end, and plans for more than 120 nodes within three years. [...] [...] LayerOne Inc., which calls itself the first optical transport exchange, offers quick and simple provisioning of local and long-haul circuits among multiple carriers via neutral optical distribution nodes at carrier hotels. LayerOne had more than a dozen exchange sites in place at year’s end, and plans for more than 120 nodes within three years. [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-62455 Texas Startup Blog: Web 2.0 and Social Media » Blog Archive » Bankruptcy = Success? Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:17:55 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-62455 [...] Having been ‘there’ and ‘done’ that I would have to agree.  Of course failure is no fun and bankruptcy is the ultimate and final form of failure in business.  I recommend avoiding it at all costs in your personal life, but in the venture capital space you NEED to take risks that could result in huge returns or massive losses.  Singles and Doubles don’t cut it when your term sheet requires you to return 5x the investment before your team sees a dime.  Read more from Lightspeed here.  [...] [...] Having been ‘there’ and ‘done’ that I would have to agree.  Of course failure is no fun and bankruptcy is the ultimate and final form of failure in business.  I recommend avoiding it at all costs in your personal life, but in the venture capital space you NEED to take risks that could result in huge returns or massive losses.  Singles and Doubles don’t cut it when your term sheet requires you to return 5x the investment before your team sees a dime.  Read more from Lightspeed here.  [...]

]]> http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2005/12/05/my-biggest-failure-20000000-loss/#comment-44440 Ranjeet Sodhi Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:10:19 +0000 http://texasvc.weblogswork.com/?p=411#comment-44440 Inspirational as usual... even your story of your biggest failure helps me realize that I need to seize an opportunities sitting on my lap to go entrepreneurial asap. Inspirational as usual… even your story of your biggest failure helps me realize that I need to seize an opportunities sitting on my lap to go entrepreneurial asap.

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