When folks say that "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy", they should be talking about Mike Galgon, one of the founders of Avenue A, the banner advertising company that became aQuantive. The online advertising agency was purchased by Microsoft for $66.50 a share, a considerable premium over the current price of about $35 a share.
At a time when folks created flimsy business models, hoping to cash out via the drama of an IPO, aQuantive did things the right way. The CEO is the same CEO from 2000. Mr. Galgon, one of the founders, is still actively involved in the business.
aQuantive is one of a very small number of success stories from the internet bubble era. I'm very happy for those folks!!
P.S. Had I stayed for seven and a half years, I, too, would have been worth millions!!
> P.S. Had I stayed for seven and
ReplyDelete> a half years, I, too, would
> have been worth millions!!
Ahhh the pleasures of hindsight!! :)
You might have been worth millions but Kevin the rest of us would have missed out on a wonderful blogger who so generously shares his wisdom.
-Avinash.
Thanks for the nice comment!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I much prefer the path I took. I wouldn't be doing what I do now if I had continued to work at aQuantive. I'm having a blast doing what I'm doing, money is a lot less important than fun it.