Startup.com

Startup.com felt like a reality tv show, it was so intimately raw, exposing the fragile inner workings of a burgeoning tech venture. It wasn't just a documentary; it was a visceral experience. I felt like I was there, shoulder to shoulder with the founders, living the life and part of the immersive nature was how many dizzying ups and crushing downs there were, a relentless emotional rollercoaster. At no point, did the doc let me feel secure or think the company could last past the new prologue, the narrative constantly hinting at impending doom. Beyond that, I think the 3rd investor, Govind, got out easiest with 700k and keeping his stable job, a seemingly clean escape. He did not seem to sacrifice much in terms of time either, appearing almost detached from the intense daily grind. The additions of gyms as a recurring backdrop was a weird, yet oddly fitting, theme, as a lot of important personal conversations, often fraught with tension, started and ended there, highlighting the stress permeating every aspect of their lives. I really think Kaleil was the destructive force, he slowly, almost imperceptibly, needed more and more control, which led to a lot of personal decision problems, eroding the trust at the core of the company. I do agree that Tom fell behind in the technology, his skills lagging as the demands of the platform grew, but the need to push him out was not needed, a harsh and ultimately damaging move. They could have handled upgrades and worked with Tom on the underlying infrastructure, providing him with the support he needed to evolve. Beyond that, the fundings at the start seemed to be for a company which had no tangible product until after raising $20 million, a testament to the sheer audacity and perhaps naivety of the dot-com boom.