In startup environments a question persists, funding. But why funding? That's been my questi8on as it seems ot be route these days. The have new words for it, Beta, Infusion, etc etc.

Isn't it called capital - at least in a traditionally speaking; buy or create your inventory then execute your sales and marketing strategies and programs. Wouldn't it then be a matter of reaching sales projections to create profit, create happy bankers and enter into new markets? Maybe I'm naive, but it appears user numbers/advertising sales should be enough to sustain growth as long as advertising opportunities beyond ad placement and click through are created within the product. Hmm, within the product...

Recently I've been caught having my attention drawn away from my page - ok, yes, within the product! Note: need to develop ideas

So why funding? Why Alpha, Beta, Treta reliance on these?

I've begin to focus on this. What areas of my product's development rely heavily on the notions of funding, and what planning can take place to reduce or minimize these liabilities particularly for their UX focus? Has ftm, first to market, become a liability.

Looking back AOL, a great company, solid brand, perhaps too focused on technology, maybe clouded by this perspective, at least in my view, was simply struggling to keep up. But then again there's that renegade brand which is now well divorced from its parent brand, AIM is the exact opposite: focused, energetic (albeit, no longer joven - young - from recent changes), vulnerable, available, and relevant. Great advertising vehicle if you ask me. I wonder if AOL plans to do anything with this.

By this I mean, its perspective for future product development.

Will they? Were they to have looked far enough in advance, unless depreciation continues as the cycle, they would have reduced their user base losses each quarter by truly incorporating users within the decision making process rather than focusing on monetization to create via ad revenues rather than interest through product innovation. I mean, at least from my queries AOL was, is, their brand. Wholesome, honest, people oriented. It represented - represents? - is? it's customers base.

Lets assume the weight of corporate depreciation caused by dialup to high speed was insurmountable. Ok, let's not. Never say the impossible is possible. There still existed revenue retention by shifting focus away from the "funding" mentality has they retained UX and New Product development as priority. Rather, technology or at least available technology became the champion. I don't think technology with respect to AOL is a relevant value proposition. Yet, regarding infusions of cash, technology might well have been the only collateral available.

Yet, citing social networking, viral marketing, and widget developments throughout the web, it appears AOL lost touch with the raft. Now well down stream, I fear their focus is firmly on the technology weight providing the core of their focus firmly anchoring them in this quasi-obsolete era.

Advertising, ad acquisitions, boring obtuse nonrelevant and intrusive monetizations schemes may prove to be the solution to generate cash quickly, but I believe within the AOL/AIM raison d'etre, the private inside joke between them, the vibe scurry under desks once an exec walks into a Dulles area is that renegade, survive or die attitude which every successful startup feeds off.

The "Leave me alone, I don't need your charity." mentality.

This is market. This is industry.

3) Shoot your youngest most retardedly naive creatives in the leg - so they don't go anywhere. They're dumb, too easily taken away. Better to have them limp around the farm thinking, than running away in full fear.

4) Hang all keyboard artisits who consider themselves developers - in the entry way. Works like a scarecrow keeping evil ego spirits away. Use the bones as mulch - after they've been cut down.

5) Feed new programmers ganja cookies daily. You need them thinking they're developers for very short periods each day. Being under the influence help cloud distinctions of involvement and authorship and will provide disorientation ensuring retention of pride and integrity. It's important to them, treat them, well, like you would a retiring grandma.

And lastly keep this in mind. Kick your friends with a smile when their startup fails - just a few times. Give them reason to suspect you had something to do with it.

It'll make them stronger. This is about money, money! Your money es Mi money. Got it. money. money. money. money.