LUIGIDOLLOSA

10754903

VIAWEB

1.] ViaWeb was the first server-based software

Graham’s Viaweb was the newest and most novel idea of its time to implement the concept of web-based application. Viaweb, “working through the web”, was a client-based software that allows customers to create their very own online stores by the usage of the web browser. It was a relatively unique idea at their time due to the prevailing rampancy of desktop softwares. Viaweb ushered in the era of E-commerce by its emergence on the public eye. And as a typical start-up story, Graham’s prime intent was to build software for a company to eventually buy and own in exchange for a huge return. They achieved their chief objective as Yahoo bought Viaweb and later developed and renamed it as Yahoo Store, one of their early acquisitions. And it was a very typical start-up story to narrate. Graham and co-founders had a technical background on computers and didn’t have the business knack for things to begin with. They were solely focused on designing software for end-users to utilize with a degree of ease. The concept of Viaweb was that of a similar account to a previous start-up of Graham, instead of employing Art Galleries to be displayed on the web, they aimed at putting business, in the form of online stores, on the web. They pre-assumed that there is and will be and increasing interest in the scene of online business, and now termed as electronic commerce. So, as they had the software specialization, they were wholly focused on developing a functional and quality software first, that Graham, Rtm, and Trevor had allocated and shared their individual time, during the design process. They worked with a fair amount of funding at first, but gradually necessitated greater amounts to develop more of its components. They were unbusiness-like, as well, with their work attitudes and preferences, choosing to operate on a usable space supplied by Rtm’s place and making use of unofficially used computers at Massachusetts. Their established mindset was to of the software and customer aspects, with less consideration on the business aspect. Their lack of entrepreneurial background did bring obstacles but it didn’t become a big matter since Graham and company wasn’t deterred to accomplish their ultimate endpoint. Soon, after the rollercoaster ride of the start-up phase, they ended up being bought by Yahoo, an option that they willed from the very start.

2.] Graham yearned for a Yahoo! deal.

Yahoo! was the company Graham had absolutely desired for since the very beginning. It was the exact, single company that he really set his eyes onto for their ViaWeb application to end up. As Viaweb’s powerful service became widespread by word of mouth, they were gradually nearing Yahoo!. They looked very highly of Yahoo! and treated it as the ‘best’, the ‘ideal, the ‘right choice’, as to which Viaweb will be officially owned. As to what the interview described, Graham and co-founders already did product demos to attract Yahoo’s attention. Their lucky break happened through Partovi, a common friend of the co-founding squad, who had linkage with Yahoo due to his Link Exchange start-up. From thereon, being bought by Yahoo- a definite dream come true for Graham- all was like occurring as to what they originally intended. Yahoo! had adapted to their work philosophy since they were of the same breed-they had very similar backgrounds and their perspectives on businesses were aligned. The truth of the matter on the acquisition is that it was a definite win-win situation, for Graham had satisfied his personal aspiration and Yahoo had made large profits because of the software, and it leads to the convenience of the general customer- a common goal of both involved parties.

3.] Fred Egan saves the day!

There was a point wherein Viaweb would have almost lost an angel investor. This transpired soon after Rtm’s departure towards California, and Graham had to explain it to investors as a personal career decision. The angel investor demanded that in order for his next investing to proceed, the company should manage to hire a business associate, more preferably a CEO. It was a prerogative Graham had to comply with, as he is in the threshold of losing funding from the angel investor. And to another very fortunate start-up story turning-point, a major figure came forth into the tale to save the hopes of Graham. It was definitely pure luck that played the part on this scenario, for Fred Egan was the one who searched for Viaweb instead of the other around. Not only that, the fortunate angle of this is that Egan was the most suitable character for the position because of his inherent attitude towards their business, uncharacteristic of the stereotype Graham has with business people. With Egan, Graham and his technical people had the full freedom to concentrate on their specialization- the technical dimension, the software itself whilst Egan was tuning in to his stuff- the business aspect. Egan didn’t intrude what Graham and his people were focusing on, he was there to mind his own stuff, and he did it pretty well. Graham had huge respects for Egan, and the latter was attributed to a major part of the success of Viaweb itself as an established start-up company.