20 WORST investments - GoFuckYourself.com

$5 submissions · 11-20-2007, 03:02 PM

20 worst investments by venture capital funds. I used to work for a VC firm in the late 90s and boy, did we invest in some doozies. How many can you spot/recognize from this list? http://www.insidecrm.com/features/20...tments-111907/

Kozmo.com: Kozmo.com's small-goods delivery service, while a recipient of around $250 million in investment, and popular with students and young professionals, ultimately met its end and liquidated in 2001. Its business model was criticized as unprofitable because it didn't charge for deliveries. Kozmo.com's demise is profiled in the documentary film e-Dreams.

I remember Kozmo.com, a friend of mine was the roommate of the guy who founded the company. My buddy kept insisting that it was HIS idea. Sure enough, when Kozmo went on life support, my friend began to insist that he just HELPED and it wasn't his idea. Just proves the old saying once again:

"Success has many fathers. Failure is an orphan."

Anyway, enjoy the trip back to the late 90's early 2000s.

ACMoviePass -Dave Dunit- · 11-20-2007, 03:05 PM

lmaoooo ampd mobile

eroswebmaster · 11-20-2007, 03:07 PM

I made money off of the pets.com blow up. I ended up clearing out some stores who had the pets.com puppet for like pennies...turned around and sold them on eBay for like $15 a pop...LOL

Snake Doctor · 11-20-2007, 03:08 PM

Just goes to show that fundamentals always win in the end.

$5 submissions · 11-20-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroswebmaster

I made money off of the pets.com blow up. I ended up clearing out some stores who had the pets.com puppet for like pennies...turned around and sold them on eBay for like $15 a pop...LOL

Hehehehe sweet!

$5 submissions · 11-20-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake Doctor

Just goes to show that fundamentals always win in the end.

Dude, you're so right on the money. I remember reading Business2.0, forbes, and other articles re "HOW TO VALUATE THE NEW ECONOMY". What bullshit. Either a company makes money or it doesn't. Those articles were writing shit like "New age ways to redefine and revalue the concept of profit." Yeah.... evalue doesn't pay the rent.

DaddyHalbucks · 11-20-2007, 03:10 PM

S E X Y L A D I E S .com?

DamageX · 11-20-2007, 03:15 PM

No such thing as a bad investment. Only varying degrees of expensive lessons.

DamageX · 11-20-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by $5 submissions

Dude, you're so right on the money. I remember reading Business2.0, forbes, and other articles re "HOW TO VALUATE THE NEW ECONOMY". What bullshit. Either a company makes money or it doesn't. Those articles were writing shit like "New age ways to redefine and revalue the concept of profit." Yeah.... evalue doesn't pay the rent.

It pays the erent.

$5 submissions · 11-20-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamageX

No such thing as a bad investment. Only varying degrees of expensive lessons.

Good attitude. I like that!

It's not whether you win or lose, it's whether you learn or not. I'm with ya 100% on that.

Violetta · 11-20-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamageX

No such thing as a bad investment. Only varying degrees of expensive lessons.

Doctor Dre · 11-20-2007, 03:42 PM

Enron should definitly be #1 thought...

Shagbunny · 11-20-2007, 03:44 PM

or in Canada, opening up any donut shop other than Tim Hortons

DamageX · 11-20-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

Enron should definitly be #1 thought...

You need to learn the difference between bad INVESTMENT and bad MANAGEMENT.

Doctor Dre · 11-20-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamageX

You need to learn the difference between bad INVESTMENT and bad MANAGEMENT.

Lots of people invested in the way the accounting was done as far as energy investements were going. It was supposed to change the way business was done.

The ideas behind Enron was probably as bad as the management. Hot hair.

Doctor Dre · 11-20-2007, 04:00 PM

They are including management problems too... How a business is managed is as good as the business plan behind the business.

Pixelon.com: Although Pixelon's money-burn of $16 million isn't remarkable in comparison to the other all-stars on this list, the way it was burnt certainly is. Pixelon's founder, "Michael Fenne" was more con man than entrepreneur, spending most of the company's investment on a Las Vegas launch party peppered with stars like Tony Bennett, Kiss and The Who. Eventually, it came out that Mr. Fenne was actually David Kim Stanley, a man on the run from the law and living in his car, who previously pleaded guilty to swindling $1.5 million from friends and neighbors.

Snake Doctor · 11-20-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by $5 submissions

Dude, you're so right on the money. I remember reading Business2.0, forbes, and other articles re "HOW TO VALUATE THE NEW ECONOMY". What bullshit. Either a company makes money or it doesn't. Those articles were writing shit like "New age ways to redefine and revalue the concept of profit." Yeah.... evalue doesn't pay the rent.

Yeah that whole "new economy" thing was ridiculous. All of a sudden profits don't matter because the company is internet based....or people just assumed that eventually our economy would be dominated by internet companies so they better get in now before it got too expensive.

These are the same people that two years ago thought housing prices would rise 25% a year forever so they better buy them up now or else they'd never be able to afford one.

Fundamentals always win in the end.

Snake Doctor · 11-20-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

Enron should definitly be #1 thought...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamageX

You need to learn the difference between bad INVESTMENT and bad MANAGEMENT.

There's also a difference between bad management and crooked management. But that's another discussion altogether.

If Enron was trading at a multiple anywhere near where the rest of the S&P was trading (I think it was around 30 times earnings) then any sane investor should have gotten out.

Snake Doctor · 11-20-2007, 04:28 PM

speaking of fundamentals....S&P 500 closed at 1439 today, this would be a great buying opportunity for anyone who has money in a cash position.

This is definitely a good time to jump into the market.

DamageX · 11-20-2007, 04:34 PM

This one's priceless:

Quote:

Xoma: While many pharmaceutical companies enjoy soaring profits, Xoma isn't one of them. This 26-year old company has not earned a profit since its inception in 1981. In fact, it has run through more than $700 million. Its stock has gone from highs of $32 per share to $3.04. Of course, this company's future is much more promising than many of the other companies profiled in this article. There's still a chance that Xoma will see success, even this far down the road. Perhaps you'll see Xoma on a future list of VC turnaround stories.

Man, you'd think that after 25 years of being a failure someone would learn a lesson and give the fuck up already...

L-Pink · 11-20-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamageX

This one's priceless:

Man, you'd think that after 25 years of being a failure someone would learn a lesson and give the fuck up already...

Tomorrow GFY will have nine posters if this advise is followed.

teg0 · 11-20-2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamageX

You need to learn the difference between bad INVESTMENT and bad MANAGEMENT.

the Shemp · 11-20-2007, 05:34 PM

that tanning salon in Iran didnt go over too well either...

$5 submissions · 11-20-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake Doctor

speaking of fundamentals....S&P 500 closed at 1439 today, this would be a great buying opportunity for anyone who has money in a cash position.

This is definitely a good time to jump into the market.

Thanks, bro

minusonebit · 11-20-2007, 06:29 PM

The US Dollar is the worst investment going right now.

$5 submissions · 11-20-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minusonebit

The US Dollar is the worst investment going right now.

I run an outsourcing/offshoring company. Boy, do I know

clickclickclick · 11-20-2007, 07:18 PM

best investment is self knowledge

Snake Doctor · 11-20-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minusonebit

The US Dollar is the worst investment going right now.

A currency isn't really an investment though.

I'm not saying the dollar is doing well or anything like that....but currency is another subject altogether.

GrouchyAdmin · 11-20-2007, 10:55 PM

21: EpicCash

Basic_man · 11-20-2007, 10:58 PM

I did receive checks from AllAdvantage back in the time!! Some good old memories!

lazycash · 11-21-2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basic_man

I did receive checks from AllAdvantage back in the time!! Some good old memories!

Ah the memories, I had over 80k paid to surf referrals and over 45k referrals with All Advantage, I still have my AA debit card. I remember thinking I was the shit when I could sit and down and surf the web and make $75/hr because of all my referrals. When the stock market crashed in March 2000 it marked the end of most of the paid to surf companies as the IPO was no longer a viable option and all the venture capital funding was yanked. I remember talking with so many execs and it was obvious they were burning through funding and losing a ton, just trying to gain enough signups and exposure to get an IPO and strike it rich.

Even though it was a bummer when they all died along with my earnings, I credit much of how I learned to market online with my experience with those companies, its where my nick lazycash came from.

pornask · 11-21-2007, 12:09 AM

it's sad bolt.com had to go out of business. It was a great website I used to frequent a lot.

$5 submissions · 11-21-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazycash

Ah the memories, I had over 80k paid to surf referrals and over 45k referrals with All Advantage, I still have my AA debit card. I remember thinking I was the shit when I could sit and down and surf the web and make $75/hr because of all my referrals. When the stock market crashed in March 2000 it marked the end of most of the paid to surf companies as the IPO was no longer a viable option and all the venture capital funding was yanked. I remember talking with so many execs and it was obvious they were burning through funding and losing a ton, just trying to gain enough signups and exposure to get an IPO and strike it rich.

Even though it was a bummer when they all died along with my earnings, I credit much of how I learned to market online with my experience with those companies, its where my nick lazycash came from.

The guys behind it came back....... look up AGLOCO. Not as fat as Alladvantage though.

xxxjay · 11-21-2007, 12:31 AM

I love your posts man. You actually learn something. They are great.

sandman! · 11-21-2007, 01:35 AM

i remember when amped mobile was all over the tv with ads selling phones to getto people with no credit

LOL

Drake · 11-21-2007, 02:32 AM

$5 submissions, please never leave GFY. You post some of the coolest articles and share some of the most amazing ideas on here. Keep it up, because "we" do read your threads.

teomaxxx · 11-21-2007, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake Doctor

speaking of fundamentals....S&P 500 closed at 1439 today, this would be a great buying opportunity for anyone who has money in a cash position.

This is definitely a good time to jump into the market.

Maybe there could be short term bounce (or christmas rally), but in the long term this is not definately good time to jump into the market, except companies, who do well in recession times too.

"The only two exceptions of a housing recession not leading to economy-wide ones were those during the Korean War and the Vietnam war when a massive fiscal stimulus rescued the economy. What we spent ? or waste ? on Iraq is not sufficient to get that fiscal stimulus; we would need another equivalent of $200 billion fiscal stimulus to do the job."
From:
http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini/223214/

pocketkangaroo · 11-21-2007, 02:44 AM

Kozmo was actually a fucking awesome service. You could order a latte and some gum and they'd deliver it for you for free. I didn't live in Chicago at that time, but had friends who did. They whored out that service so much that the delivery guys knew their names.

Speaking of dot com busts, does anyone remember Flooz? It was supposed to be "internet money". Dumbest fucking idea I've ever heard of.

minusonebit · 11-21-2007, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basic_man

I did receive checks from AllAdvantage back in the time!! Some good old memories!

AA was the shit.

minusonebit · 11-21-2007, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teomaxxx

Maybe there could be short term bounce (or christmas rally), but in the long term this is not definately good time to jump into the market, except companies, who do well in recession times too.

"The only two exceptions of a housing recession not leading to economy-wide ones were those during the Korean War and the Vietnam war when a massive fiscal stimulus rescued the economy. What we spent ? or waste ? on Iraq is not sufficient to get that fiscal stimulus; we would need another equivalent of $200 billion fiscal stimulus to do the job."
From:
http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini/223214/

We can always bomb Iran and make up for it.

$5 submissions · 11-21-2007, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo

Speaking of dot com busts, does anyone remember Flooz? It was supposed to be "internet money". Dumbest fucking idea I've ever heard of.

Yeah, I've heard of them. Read an article about them at Redherring. There were tons of Web 1.0 companies, most died. The same will probably happen with Web 2.0 companies.

Matt_WildCash · 11-21-2007, 05:58 AM

AllAdvantage: AllAdvantage offered Internet users 50 cents per hour to watch banner ads on a "Viewbar." Of course, the problem with their business model was that advertisers didn't see the appeal of the low-pay demographic AllAdvantage offered. This company represents $135 million in venture capital down the drain.

Oh boy I remember this one, thinking WTF are they thinking. Sure enough it went out of business big surprise.

Thanks for the post, a cool read.

Retributi0n · 11-21-2007, 06:14 AM

buying a car is the worste investment you can make

DamageX · 11-21-2007, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retributi0n

buying a car is the worste investment you can make

That depends on the car and the price tag, really.

Jayvis · 11-21-2007, 06:49 AM

ah, kozmo... i bought startup.com at a local dollar store... what a good investment.

thonglife · 11-21-2007, 06:57 AM

The Verichip!

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=my&s=ADSX&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=&c=%5EGSPC&c=%5EIXIC &c=%5EDJI

DEA - banned for life · 11-21-2007, 06:58 AM

epiccash + therealme ...horrible investments !

fuhkinglou · 11-21-2007, 07:14 AM

I loved kozmo.com and urbanfetch.com They both went out of business in the same week I think. It was a real downer. I remember a friend telling me about the kozmo beta. All you had to do was log in and they would deliver free ice cream. For like 2 weeks I ate ice cream every other night. And Urban Fetch used to bring fresh baked cookies. AND they didn't accept tips for the delivery. It was awesome. I didn't know her at the time but a friend of mine used to scan in porn movie covers for the kozmo adult rental business.

fuhkinglou · 11-21-2007, 07:18 AM

Wow. I remember WebVan, too. Talk about a total bust. FreshDirect seems to have figured that market out but I remember reading that most people think it's not a sustainable model.

I also used to work in the same building as Bolt. We got a lot of their video tape stock in exchange for the debt they owed the place I worked. Everyone who was still working at Bolt was looking at us like we were vultures.

GOOD TIMES

ShellyCrash · 11-21-2007, 08:57 AM

Oh baby, the Cue Cat!

They did a whole TV campaign and were giving these things out for free.. man- I saw failure written all over that thing a mile away. It did remind me of a picture pages type book I had when I was younger that seemed to use similar technology

11-20-2007, 03:05 PM	#2
ACMoviePass -Dave Dunit- Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In Your Mouth Posts: 296	lmaoooo ampd mobile __________________ ICQ: 398-996-991 Email: dave "at" acmoviepass.com 80% PAYOUTS EVERY FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER!!!

11-20-2007, 03:07 PM	#3
eroswebmaster March 1st, 2003 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seat 4 @ Venetian Poker Room Posts: 20,295	I made money off of the pets.com blow up. I ended up clearing out some stores who had the pets.com puppet for like pennies...turned around and sold them on eBay for like $15 a pop...LOL __________________ For rent - ICQ 127-027-910 Click here for more details

11-20-2007, 03:10 PM	#7
DaddyHalbucks A freakin' legend! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada USA Posts: 18,975	S E X Y L A D I E S .com? __________________ Boner Money

11-20-2007, 03:15 PM	#8
DamageX Marketing & Strategy Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Former nomad Posts: 14,293	No such thing as a bad investment. Only varying degrees of expensive lessons. __________________ Whitehat is for chumps If you don't do it, somebody else will - true story!

11-20-2007, 05:34 PM	#23
the Shemp congrats to the winners Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Echo Beach Posts: 10,891	that tanning salon in Iran didnt go over too well either... __________________ i use Vacares...so should you Submit your picture galleries to my site...Outlaw TGP

11-20-2007, 03:02 PM	#1
$5 submissions I help you SUCCEED Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Pearl of the Orient Seas Posts: 32,195	20 WORST investments 20 worst investments by venture capital funds. I used to work for a VC firm in the late 90s and boy, did we invest in some doozies. How many can you spot/recognize from this list? http://www.insidecrm.com/features/20...tments-111907/ Kozmo.com: Kozmo.com's small-goods delivery service, while a recipient of around $250 million in investment, and popular with students and young professionals, ultimately met its end and liquidated in 2001. Its business model was criticized as unprofitable because it didn't charge for deliveries. Kozmo.com's demise is profiled in the documentary film e-Dreams. I remember Kozmo.com, a friend of mine was the roommate of the guy who founded the company. My buddy kept insisting that it was HIS idea. Sure enough, when Kozmo went on life support, my friend began to insist that he just HELPED and it wasn't his idea. Just proves the old saying once again: "Success has many fathers. Failure is an orphan." Anyway, enjoy the trip back to the late 90's early 2000s. __________________ Need a NON-ADULT income stream? We build your YOUTUBE CHANNEL for only $20 per video! For Hire: $3/hour or $400 per month Marketing Specialist Virtual Assistants

11-20-2007, 03:08 PM	#4
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	Just goes to show that fundamentals always win in the end.

11-20-2007, 03:44 PM	#13
Shagbunny Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wut Posts: 3,028	or in Canada, opening up any donut shop other than Tim Hortons

11-20-2007, 04:28 PM	#19
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	speaking of fundamentals....S&P 500 closed at 1439 today, this would be a great buying opportunity for anyone who has money in a cash position. This is definitely a good time to jump into the market.

11-20-2007, 06:29 PM	#25
minusonebit So Fucking Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: [email protected] Posts: 7,391	The US Dollar is the worst investment going right now.

11-20-2007, 07:18 PM	#27
clickclickclick Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,227	best investment is self knowledge __________________ if you need more than 3 clicks to get to a join page, something is wrong ;) p.s. i still bring the sales whores here.

11-20-2007, 10:55 PM	#29
GrouchyAdmin Now choke yourself! Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,085	21: EpicCash __________________ AIM: GrouchyGfy

11-20-2007, 10:58 PM	#30
Basic_man Programming King Pin Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Montreal Posts: 27,360	I did receive checks from AllAdvantage back in the time!! Some good old memories! __________________ UUGallery Builder - automated photo/video gallery plugin for Wordpress! Stop looking! Checkout Naked Hosting, online since 1999 !

11-21-2007, 12:09 AM	#32
pornask So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 253-233-241 Posts: 6,518	it's sad bolt.com had to go out of business. It was a great website I used to frequent a lot.

11-21-2007, 12:31 AM	#34
xxxjay Tube groupie. Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: LoScandalous, CA Posts: 13,482	I love your posts man. You actually learn something. They are great. __________________ http://donttellmehowtoruinmylife.com/ - http://www.jmdigitalmarketing.com/my...s-and-reviews/ - http://www.wouldyouhitit.org - http://shinyobjectreviews.com/

11-21-2007, 01:35 AM	#35
sandman! Icq: 14420613 Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: chicago Posts: 15,432	i remember when amped mobile was all over the tv with ads selling phones to getto people with no credit LOL __________________ Need WebHosting ? Email me for some great deals [email protected]

11-21-2007, 02:32 AM	#36
Drake Hello world! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 12,508	$5 submissions, please never leave GFY. You post some of the coolest articles and share some of the most amazing ideas on here. Keep it up, because "we" do read your threads.

11-21-2007, 02:44 AM	#38
pocketkangaroo Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 8,452	Kozmo was actually a fucking awesome service. You could order a latte and some gum and they'd deliver it for you for free. I didn't live in Chicago at that time, but had friends who did. They whored out that service so much that the delivery guys knew their names. Speaking of dot com busts, does anyone remember Flooz? It was supposed to be "internet money". Dumbest fucking idea I've ever heard of.

11-21-2007, 05:58 AM	#42
Matt_WildCash Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,699	AllAdvantage: AllAdvantage offered Internet users 50 cents per hour to watch banner ads on a "Viewbar." Of course, the problem with their business model was that advertisers didn't see the appeal of the low-pay demographic AllAdvantage offered. This company represents $135 million in venture capital down the drain. Oh boy I remember this one, thinking WTF are they thinking. Sure enough it went out of business big surprise. Thanks for the post, a cool read. __________________ Try the New XMovies.com and make more $$$ with your Traffic

11-21-2007, 06:14 AM	#43
Retributi0n So Fucking Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 393	buying a car is the worste investment you can make

11-21-2007, 06:49 AM	#45
Jayvis Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 5,428	ah, kozmo... i bought startup.com at a local dollar store... what a good investment.

11-21-2007, 06:57 AM	#46
thonglife So Fucking Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Midwest, US Posts: 1,566	The Verichip! http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=my&s=ADSX&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=&c=%5EGSPC&c=%5EIXIC &c=%5EDJI

11-21-2007, 06:58 AM	#47
DEA - banned for life V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: InYour Head Posts: 7,886	epiccash + therealme ...horrible investments !

11-21-2007, 07:14 AM	#48
fuhkinglou Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 951	I loved kozmo.com and urbanfetch.com They both went out of business in the same week I think. It was a real downer. I remember a friend telling me about the kozmo beta. All you had to do was log in and they would deliver free ice cream. For like 2 weeks I ate ice cream every other night. And Urban Fetch used to bring fresh baked cookies. AND they didn't accept tips for the delivery. It was awesome. I didn't know her at the time but a friend of mine used to scan in porn movie covers for the kozmo adult rental business. __________________ -------- Whose Your Porn Pal? Want to trade hardlinks? ICQ - 264-934-933

11-21-2007, 07:18 AM	#49
fuhkinglou Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 951	Wow. I remember WebVan, too. Talk about a total bust. FreshDirect seems to have figured that market out but I remember reading that most people think it's not a sustainable model. I also used to work in the same building as Bolt. We got a lot of their video tape stock in exchange for the debt they owed the place I worked. Everyone who was still working at Bolt was looking at us like we were vultures. GOOD TIMES __________________ -------- Whose Your Porn Pal? Want to trade hardlinks? ICQ - 264-934-933

11-21-2007, 08:57 AM	#50
ShellyCrash Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 6,708	Oh baby, the Cue Cat! They did a whole TV campaign and were giving these things out for free.. man- I saw failure written all over that thing a mile away. It did remind me of a picture pages type book I had when I was younger that seemed to use similar technology __________________ Start making money with the hottest hookup site! up to $55 PPS or up to 75% Revshare ICQ 196766477