Loic Le Meur: How I started Seesmic and raised $6 million
Julien
· 1 year ago
Bravo! Nice story up there... I wish I could tell such a story in a few months!
Douglas Karr
· 1 year ago
This is a fantastic post and provides insight into how one can pursue their passion. The story of those who invest in others' dreams are just as amazing. Kudos to your team of investors and yourself. Great post.
Pierro
· 1 year ago
Grandios thanks for sharing this and : I congratulate! Good luck to further episodes
Julien C
· 1 year ago
Congrats for the 6 million. Nice to see you're using Flex too
Loic Lemeur
· 1 year ago
thank you all for your congrats. Glad you liked my post.
Valvert
· 1 year ago
Loïc, congratulations for this round, for the post, for your sense of Story Telling. M... pour la suite, I keep Seesmicing ;-)
Mathieu
· 1 year ago
Congratulations Loïc! Passion, Friends and Determination are key factors to succeed and we can feel all of that in your post. Seesmic will be a success, for sure!
Thanks for sharing all those infos, in the initial spirit of the "seesmic du jour" =)
howardlindzon
· 1 year ago
congrats
David Sifry
· 1 year ago
Kudos Loic. Of course Seesmic will be a success, you've done a fantastic job making it happen. At first I didn't really understand it, but it really has grown and blossomed and I see the potential and what it is becoming. Congratulations!
Dave
Mattias Miksche
· 1 year ago
congrats mon frere, very well done!
Josh Morgan
· 1 year ago
Well told story of how one can quickly build a network when they have a great idea, track record and the ability to bring a project to market.
neville
· 1 year ago
Nice post, Loic. You're a good story-teller. And your English gets better all the time :)
Very interesting point you make re differences in attitude Europe vs. US. "Trust is by default." On a far more simpler level than your venture, I see that myself. Far too much "can't" over here than "can." Actually, it then becomes a thrill when you meet someone who is all about "can."
Best of success for seesmic. With all the people you have involved in the venture, and the growing community, it's easy to see how successful this can be.
cem
· 1 year ago
Loic, as an young entrepreneur i would like to know how you are going to spend the money. since you are very transparent with running seesmic it would be very helpful to see where the costs are.
nabil
· 1 year ago
Congrats Loic but please make seesmic easy-o-use for everyone, not only geeks and that will be a success I think. Indeed, all the time I connect at seesmic, I see the same face, it is like seesmic is designed and destinated for a closed community but perhaps I am wrong and that this feeling is because I connect at almost the same hour each day and that people have their habits.
Lee Bandoni
· 1 year ago
I have been following the Seesmic Story from day 1 and found it educating and exciting!
So here's my question's
1) I live in Europe (UK) and find the attitude of traditional funding sources to be backwards. Do you feel that to build a web 2.0 company and get the funding / media attention is to be based in the US
2) I understand that a number of your investors have exchanged small % of capital in return for equity. How many hours per month (if any) do these investors spend providing advice to you and your team.
3) With the people you have on board it seems you will have the ability to embed Seesmic in a number of other sites in the business / personal market. Do you see a big future for Seesmic on sites like Ebay who's users could discuss niche products and possibly help increase the conversion/sale value.
ljud
· 1 year ago
Keep on rolling Loïc, you're the best !
kfir Pravda
· 1 year ago
thanks for sharing - it was a very interesting read, as well as a good example of the importance of networking.
Jeremiah Owyang
· 1 year ago
Congrats Loic
Jean-Patrick EHOUMAN
· 1 year ago
Felicitation Frenchy,
Sache qu'on est nombreux à suivre de près ton projet et aussi ton expatriation. Pour ma part null doute que tu va réussir. Merci d'avoir parlé de la mentalité "ton projet va echouer par ce que ..." qui existe ici à Paris et qui fait que nombre d'entre nous ne vont pas au bout de leur projets. Je posterai sur mon blog (http://ehouman.blogspot.com) au fur et mesure que tu postera sur l'évolution de ton projet.
bonne continuation.
GT
· 1 year ago
Loic - Thank you for sharing this with your audience. It is more than just about your venture(s) - it a a great narration on the trials and challenges for entreprenuers - a great example of visionary thinking enlisting visionary investors!
Congrats Loic. Having such a group of rich friends surely must have taken time to cultivate but clearly all that arse kissing has proved worthwhile and with your garlic flair and charm that was easy.
Although I think your hard work starts now because you have taken money from "friends" and they trust you to return it with a successful sale of seesmic. So no pressure then, just your reputation.
In launching seesmic and raising the money you proved two things.
1. It is more about who you know and not what you know. Seesmic is an ok solution technically in search of a mass market but somehow people have given you $6m to show it can return $600m. There are better ideas out there that will not get this level of funding.
2. It is where you live that matters. The names you drop in the post above show that you have to be in the "in-crowd".
I do wish you well and now wonder who will buy you. Perhaps Microsoft now they have $45bn spare.
Fubiz
· 1 year ago
Amazing price. By the way, nice video.
Jerome Paradis
· 1 year ago
Really interesting story Loic! While not currently looking for funding, it makes me want to move to the Valley. It's all about the attitude.
Stiennon
· 1 year ago
Great job! It will be fun watching Seesmic change the world. I love your global approach. That will be the secret to your success!
-Stiennon
phil campbell
· 1 year ago
what can i say. loic - you did a great job. onwards with seesmic!!
Fergus Burns
· 1 year ago
Hi Loic
Great story - Great Investment team.
Your adventure with Seesmic would make a great story/book for any entrepreneur
Best Regards Fergus
JeanHuguesRobert
· 1 year ago
L'avenir de la France, c'est le tourisme.
Ou en tout cas, je dis que c'est pas l'informatique !
Je me souviens qu'en 1995/97 les investisseurs français étaient souvent septiques, du style "Internet ? C'est un phénomène de mode."
Depuis j'avais pensé qu'ils avaient compris que la technologie informatique était une révolution qui allait tout changer. J'ai vérifié récement qu'il n'en est rien. Maintenant c'est en gros pour eux "un truc d'ados décandents et fauchés qui glandent sur des sites gratuits financés par des VC spéculateurs". Je caricature, un peu.
Quand on acceuille le changement avec si peu d'enthousiasme, on ne doit pas s'étonner que l'innovation se produise ailleurs. Je comprend parfaitement qu'on ait comme Loïc l'envie d'aller là où les choses se passent vraiment. De toutes façon, nul n'est prophète en son pays.
Congratulations for getting Seesmic funded: the idea is great and I look forward to seeing your team executing that vision. Don't sweat too much about that french accent: what is important is what you say:-)
P@
xoost.com
· 1 year ago
sincere contratulations!!
Technology for the Masses
· 1 year ago
It's true what they say, it's all about the right connections. An unknown entrepreneur could have came up with the same idea (probably many did) and went nowhere. What is your advice for unknown entrepreneurs to succeed?
Congratulations!
Stephan
· 1 year ago
Si tu as besoin de memoire. On te ferra un prix felicitations et bonne.... www.memoryamerica.com
Loic Lemeur
· 1 year ago
wew ! thanks so much for all your congrats and encouraging comments.
Howard, you know I regretted not having you on board, unfortunately the paperwork was already done. But I really enjoyed having you here.
Adam Wexler
· 1 year ago
Congrats Loic!
I agree with Fergus above. As a young serial internet entrepreneur myself, I would love to read about the trials and tribulations associated with your time developing a global undertaking. There is nothing available at the moment the chronicles the successful progression of a Web 2.0 startup. A real life success story (which I have very little doubt Seesmic will become) would be the best example around.
I can tell you are in this industry for all the right reasons. You look out for others, and want to see everybody else doing well. If I am ever fortunate enough to meet you, I would ask you the same question in return: What can I do for you?
other than the fact that i love seesmic the product, I love the way you have built it up in the public eye, sharing everything (almost) with the users, soliciting advice, implementing it, recruiting, etc.
I think it will become a textbook case of how to build up a startup !
Love it!
Arne Hulstein
· 1 year ago
Great story. It shows how being in a social network can make all the difference.
Oh, and I agree with your take on Europeans vs Americans in investing. Do love Europe though. ;-)
Fabrice
· 1 year ago
Thank you Loic for sharing your adventure. You are 100% right about the trust and the negative view about innovation in France (and maybe in Europe) from the ones who are supposed to help, support or buy a new service or product (non talking about all those taxes).
Ton texte devrait être lu par les enseignants à la place de la lettre de Guy Moquet !
Moi je viens de jeter l'éponge, je ne sais pas si je créerai à nouveau une boite en France.
Bravo et all the best pour seesmic !
max
· 1 year ago
Come no, Loic... well done. We have to read this articles to learn and take the risk...
Greg
· 1 year ago
Hi, I am usually on the blog french, but as there was no right to French this ticket I write here
I am happy for you and the members of the company even if I can help but ask myself a few questions: The made that there are now investors it's not going to put more pressure? Seesmic needed so much?
I had the opportunity to see your interview with Intruders.tv in December and confirmeras tu me if I am right ... When you are talking about American Business is the style of lifting this money? Unable to France?
Congratulations Loic :-)
Loic Lemeur
· 1 year ago
thank you thank you thank you now the challenge is to build a great company... money is just one of the means. The product and the community are the keys.
alain revah
· 1 year ago
Loic,
Good to see you funded and roaring buddy! I like how things look so linear with you. First building websites, then starting conversations and now taking conversations to another level. Keep up the good work!
Fabien Pretre
· 1 year ago
Hi Loic, thanks for your post. a very long an interesting post. Sorry for my bad english... but bloggers write in english on your blog, also i try to do it too. Your post is in the same spirit than the post of your second rule of entrepreneur... Share your story with all, day after day ... it s very cool to do that thing. I ll speak about this post for the next web school orleans meeting. It s a good example for french entrepreneurs. Felicitations à toute l'équipe. Continuez comme ça . Vous n'êtes qu'au début d'une aventure humaine extraordinaire. Bravo.
Cory Levy
· 1 year ago
Congrats, Loic! You have great people on board!
Gino Goossens
· 1 year ago
However I am still very skeptic if Seesmic will be a succes, I want to thank you for your post. I think this will help a lot of start-ups how to get their act together. Good luck and maybe we meet again next year at LeWeb3 !
Congratulations Loic, it's clear that you have a passion for Seesmic. Thank you for sharing the chronicles to journey to where you're at now.
Tout le meilleur à vous pour le succès continu !
Merci, Larry Kless
Andrew J Scott
· 1 year ago
Loïc,
Meant to collar you at some point at Le Web 3 but it never happened. Just to say a fantastic post - great that you take the time and share the detail.
I've been toying with moving our startup to the valley for months; an even more difficult decision if you dont have $6 million funding to support the transition(!) However, you're post helps edge us closer to a decision.
Catch up with you at one of the next events I hope
interesting concept you have here, loic... i came across your blog through another blog that criticized seesmic for not facilitating an even more-instantaneous way of communicating, however, but she certainly does give your props on the advice on how to start-up future web companies...
Flipping screens, moving screen... blah. When do they come up with a screen-only with a virtual keyboard. Just the screen...www.birmarket.com
Ryan Graves
· 1 year ago
Loic, I have found the style in which you have grown Seesmic and your example as an entrepreneur inspiring and educational. Thanks!
Seth E
· 1 year ago
Excellent job Loic! Seesmic has really helped me grow my profile and expand my network (also to really connect with people whom I'd only tweeted with before). What I mean is that it's benefiting all kinds of people, even economically. I hope it continues to do well, not just for me and the users, but because your whole team are such great people. Thanks again and hopefully I can thank you in person if your ever in New York.
All Comments
I congratulate! Good luck to further episodes
In Spain we say: "it smells sucess"
I follow you & Seesmic project. Congratulations..
www.enriqueburgos.com
Dave
Very interesting point you make re differences in attitude Europe vs. US. "Trust is by default." On a far more simpler level than your venture, I see that myself. Far too much "can't" over here than "can." Actually, it then becomes a thrill when you meet someone who is all about "can."
Best of success for seesmic. With all the people you have involved in the venture, and the growing community, it's easy to see how successful this can be.
as an young entrepreneur i would like to know how you are going to spend the money. since you are very transparent with running seesmic it would be very helpful to see where the costs are.
So here's my question's
1) I live in Europe (UK) and find the attitude of traditional funding sources to be backwards. Do you feel that to build a web 2.0 company and get the funding / media attention is to be based in the US
2) I understand that a number of your investors have exchanged small % of capital in return for equity. How many hours per month (if any) do these investors spend providing advice to you and your team.
3) With the people you have on board it seems you will have the ability to embed Seesmic in a number of other sites in the business / personal market. Do you see a big future for Seesmic on sites like Ebay who's users could discuss niche products and possibly help increase the conversion/sale value.
Sache qu'on est nombreux à suivre de près ton projet et aussi ton expatriation. Pour ma part null doute que tu va réussir. Merci d'avoir parlé de la mentalité "ton projet va echouer par ce que ..." qui existe ici à Paris et qui fait que nombre d'entre nous ne vont pas au bout de leur projets. Je posterai sur mon blog (http://ehouman.blogspot.com) au fur et mesure que tu postera sur l'évolution de ton projet.
bonne continuation.
Wishing you all the success you deserve -
http://www.conceptualist.com/?p=1568
Cheers
Sahar
www.Conceptualist.com - Blog
Although I think your hard work starts now because you have taken money from "friends" and they trust you to return it with a successful sale of seesmic. So no pressure then, just your reputation.
In launching seesmic and raising the money you proved two things.
1. It is more about who you know and not what you know. Seesmic is an ok solution technically in search of a mass market but somehow people have given you $6m to show it can return $600m. There are better ideas out there that will not get this level of funding.
2. It is where you live that matters. The names you drop in the post above show that you have to be in the "in-crowd".
I do wish you well and now wonder who will buy you. Perhaps Microsoft now they have $45bn spare.
While not currently looking for funding, it makes me want to move to the Valley. It's all about the attitude.
-Stiennon
Great story - Great Investment team.
Your adventure with Seesmic would make a great story/book for any entrepreneur
Best Regards
Fergus
Ou en tout cas, je dis que c'est pas l'informatique !
Je me souviens qu'en 1995/97 les investisseurs français étaient souvent septiques, du style "Internet ? C'est un phénomène de mode."
Depuis j'avais pensé qu'ils avaient compris que la technologie informatique était une révolution qui allait tout changer. J'ai vérifié récement qu'il n'en est rien. Maintenant c'est en gros pour eux "un truc d'ados décandents et fauchés qui glandent sur des sites gratuits financés par des VC spéculateurs". Je caricature, un peu.
Quand on acceuille le changement avec si peu d'enthousiasme, on ne doit pas s'étonner que l'innovation se produise ailleurs. Je comprend parfaitement qu'on ait comme Loïc l'envie d'aller là où les choses se passent vraiment. De toutes façon, nul n'est prophète en son pays.
Tiens, je vais bouder un coup. http://virteal.com/SecteDesBoudeurs
Don't sweat too much about that french accent: what is important is what you say:-)
P@
Congratulations!
On te ferra un prix
felicitations et bonne....
www.memoryamerica.com
Howard, you know I regretted not having you on board, unfortunately the paperwork was already done. But I really enjoyed having you here.
I agree with Fergus above. As a young serial internet entrepreneur myself, I would love to read about the trials and tribulations associated with your time developing a global undertaking. There is nothing available at the moment the chronicles the successful progression of a Web 2.0 startup. A real life success story (which I have very little doubt Seesmic will become) would be the best example around.
I can tell you are in this industry for all the right reasons. You look out for others, and want to see everybody else doing well. If I am ever fortunate enough to meet you, I would ask you the same question in return: What can I do for you?
http://ehouman.blogspot.com/2008/02/seesmic-les...
other than the fact that i love seesmic the product, I love the way you have built it up in the public eye, sharing everything (almost) with the users, soliciting advice, implementing it, recruiting, etc.
I think it will become a textbook case of how to build up a startup !
Love it!
Oh, and I agree with your take on Europeans vs Americans in investing. Do love Europe though. ;-)
Ton texte devrait être lu par les enseignants à la place de la lettre de Guy Moquet !
Moi je viens de jeter l'éponge, je ne sais pas si je créerai à nouveau une boite en France.
Bravo et all the best pour seesmic !
French this ticket I write here
I am happy for you and the members of the company even if I can help but ask myself a few questions:
The made that there are now investors it's not going to put more pressure?
Seesmic needed so much?
I had the opportunity to see your interview with Intruders.tv in December and confirmeras tu me if I am right ...
When you are talking about American Business is the style of lifting this money? Unable to France?
Congratulations Loic :-)
Good to see you funded and roaring buddy! I like how things look so linear with you. First building websites, then starting conversations and now taking conversations to another level. Keep up the good work!
Greetings, Gino Goossens
http://www.dutchcowboys.nl
Tout le meilleur à vous pour le succès continu !
Merci, Larry Kless
Meant to collar you at some point at Le Web 3 but it never happened.
Just to say a fantastic post - great that you take the time and share the detail.
I've been toying with moving our startup to the valley for months; an even more difficult decision if you dont have $6 million funding to support the transition(!) However, you're post helps edge us closer to a decision.
Catch up with you at one of the next events I hope
Andrew.
Founder, Rummble.com
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2008/02/21/...