If the dot.com era taught us anything it should have been the difference between a financing scheme and starting a real business. A real business has legs. A real business lasts, endures, grows, adapts and prospers.
Sadly, I still see countless examples of people confusing simply raising a bunch of money and launching a business that creates real economic development.
Andy Tabar sent along this link to a posting from the blog written by the company 37signals.
Suggesting startups -- specifically tech startups -- don't need to look for revenue opportunities now is akin to spoiling a child and shielding them from the outside world: They're far less prepared when they eventually have to leave the house for the first time. A poorly run startup is a poorly run business. A wonderfully run startup is a wonderfully run business. I don't believe there are many great startups that are bad businesses. Maybe less than 1%. If the business is bad the startup is bad. A great idea, maybe, but a great business, no. So if you start something up, start a business, don't start a startup.
