A VC - Latest Comments in Tumblr

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:05:01 -0000

That's why we funded tumblr. David was doing contract work for a living and had no time for tumblr

Now he is focused 100pcnt on it

Fred

Re: Tumblr

Mike — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:45:28 -0000

I tried Tumblr after I heard you talking about a while back. I really do like the "beautiful" interface and ease of use -- I'm someone who doesn't want to commit to a full fledge blog. But, there were some updates/fixes that I wanted to see for the service.

So, I started watching the Tumblr blog (http://blog.davidville.com/) for news that they would continue development. I must say that I was really disappointed and unimpressed with the fact that they didn't make a post to that blog for over 6 months -- a lifetime on the web. If you follow the comments of that last post you'll see that people were just looking for some sign of life, and there were a ton of other disappointed people as well. I ended up going with a typepad format (the next easiest format for me)

It is with mixed emotions that I find out they're actually still developing this service.

Re: Tumblr

Dan Buell — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:46:58 -0000

I checked out Tumblr recently (http://danbuell.tumblr.com/) ... Bare bone features really when compared to a Vox, Blogger, Wordpress or Typepad, etc. No unique social features and GASP, lack of commenting? Simplistic style is refreshing but also limiting.

Mobile features are up to snuff but don't lead the pack... It's funny, having been a blogger since 1998 I can look at a new solution like Tublr and know in a very short period of time whether or not there's anything there...

Bottom Line: Experienced bloggers will try Tumblr and eventually abandon it as it does not have the audience reach or features they need. New bloggers my stumble upon it but if they shop at all will eventually graduate to a more enriched service (Vox is the best thing going) and the lazy bloggers who don't want a fully loaded blogging experience will be, well, lazy and ultimately drift away from it. Not sure how you can build a business model on that?

I'll keep my eyes on it to see how it progresses.

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:04:11 -0000

tumblr didn't pitch us. they weren't a company. david karp built the service on the side when he was doing his davidville work and we started using the service and found it to be a superior blogging service than the ones we were using. so we suggested to david (bijan did) that he take a little money from us and form a company to focus on tumblr. it's almost identical to the way we found and invested in del.icio.us several years ago.

Re: Tumblr

Adam Ostrow — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:00:59 -0000

My question is that as a VC, what "problem" did Tumblr convince you they are solving? And, with their tool being so simple and easy to duplicate, what is their competitive advantage? These seem to be the first things VCs have asked me whenever I've pitched an idea, and am wondering how a company as simple and in as crowded a space at Tumblr pitched it.

Re: Tumblr

vruz — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:37:12 -0000

I may disagree on many things with Paul Graham.

But the thing that really bugs me is the noodles.

Re: Tumblr

bijan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:50:40 -0000

you can have widgets on tumblelogs. no problem. I have the flickr widget and lijit widget on mine. no problemo.

Re: Tumblr

Greg — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:12:57 -0000

Paul Graham is one of those people who I disagree with more often than agree (on the age things, the geography thing, the college-degree thing, etc.) and yet I always want to hear what he has to say.

Re: Tumblr

gregshove — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:16:59 -0000

Fred, I like the idea of displaying the widget, not just the data..adds a visual element and allows me to scan someone's page and see quickly what they are into....like your blog. can tumblr give me both?

Re: Tumblr

obscurelyfamous — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:42:48 -0000

There's some fun stuff happening with tumblr+disqus soon!

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:36:00 -0000

religously

Re: Tumblr

vruz — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:27:08 -0000

you read paul graham, right ?

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:56:02 -0000

Our next deal the founder is >40

Open for business for founders of all ages!

Re: Tumblr

vruz — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:55:59 -0000

I agree, I learn lots from the comments and interaction here too.

Re: Tumblr

vruz — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:46:04 -0000

sounds like a sensible approach, that's some good insight

thanks !

Re: Tumblr

RacerRick — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:33:12 -0000

21 year old founder. That must have cinched it for you. If he was 35 - no deal.

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:33:01 -0000

Yes, disqus is available through feedflare on tumblr

But unfortunately it's not working right now.

I think its a feedflare issue

fred

Re: Tumblr

Michael Hoffman — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:25:05 -0000

What about comments? Are the comments here from disqus connected to the Tumblr blog? For me, the comments are one of your best assets.

Re: Tumblr

Fred333 — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:28:24 -0000

Very cool. I had not heard about them before. I will have to check them out.

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:13:18 -0000

yes, that's what i meant. i have no problem with public disclosures. in fact those filings are voluntary, not required.

Re: Tumblr

JohnMaloney — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:05:52 -0000

I just posted similar sentiments on USV site - congrats to David Karp. David's an extremely bright guy and one of the best people I've ever worked with (@ UrbanBaby). Look forward to watching him drive and enhance Tumblr.

Re: Tumblr

Greg — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:57:16 -0000

I trust you mean that it's unfortunate that the investment couldn't be announced in the way you would have liked and not that it's unfortunate that SEC filings are public (even though the former is obviously a consequence of the latter)?

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:23:02 -0000

I think the essence of twitter is the message routing system they have built
and their api.

The esssence of tumblr is the simple, elegant, tool for self expression

My guess is they are more likely to work together than compete

But it's always possible that they could end up competing.

One thing we do is make sure we have different partners working with each
company. Brad is the point person for Tumblr and I am the point person for
Twitter, for example.

fred

Re: Tumblr

fredwilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:23:01 -0000

The cool thing about tumblr is that it eliminates the need for the widgets
because it pulls all of that content in as posts

fred

Re: Tumblr

Joe Lazarus — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:28:50 -0000

i've been using tumblr for a few weeks and love it. another wise investment. you're slowly gobbling up pieces of all my favorite web apps. excited for the tumblr news on 11/1.