It has been 5 months since the decision was made for a new start-up. It was a new country, a new business model, a new challenge. 5 months of hard work, sleepless nights and tough decisions.

There was to localize, there was to develop, there was to structure, there was to partner, there was to invest, there was to decide, there was to market, there was to support, there was to design, there was to hire, there was to buy, there was to sell…

Then there was to finally launch!!

And there is to localize, there is to develop, there is to structure, there is to partner, there is to invest, there is to decide, there is to market, there is to support, there is to design, there is to hire, there is to buy, there is to sell…

The unexplainable feeling of traveling uncharted seas, of finding new horizons and building your home on virgin lands. Setting your own standards of excellence in doing so…

I love start-upping! I love my job…

Bidplaza.it is born… and growing up!

Sadok Kohen

It was 1972 when Michael Corleone told Sonny “It’s not personal. It’s strictly business”. Companies where run from a top view perspective. The order chain was very well designed coming from the “Boss” trough all the ranks down to the simple soldiers. And if a few had to die in the process of making money, be it associates or customers, it was an acceptable loss. Machiavelli would proudly stand on top of the means that always justified the ends.

And then came Web 2.0. The rules suddenly changed. The business drive was taking its power from the most unusual source: its customers. And soon enough Machiavelli started to take a beating. Few examples:

• Digg kicked out a user for the very “acceptable” reason that the information the user posted was illegal, and deleted the post. The users revolted: Digg had to accept the chances to be sued.
• YouTube started to put advertisement in user videos. There was a huge protest, they had to stop and ask for permission.
• Google stopped its downloadable video service. Google lost some of its credibility.

To all of this instances the Godfather could have said: “It’s not personal. It’s strictly business”, but what would have happened then? Ironically he would have probably be trampled by an angry “mob” while buying fruits.

Take away the personal out of the Internet today and replace it with business: you get Web 1.o and then the burst…

So what could the Godfather 2.0 have told to Sonny ? Maybe: “Not Personal ? It’s STRICTLY personal!” and then opened a social networking site for mobsters.

What are your suggestions ?

Sadok Kohen