> I realized that Rdio will never succeed due to lack of fanatical leadership—you can't have a company with absent founders, that's just not how it works—and left
Can you elaborate on this? How was the leadership absent? and why do you think that was?
Rdio co-founders sold Skype (twice). When they co-founded Rdio, they weren't hoping to build their life's work, they just wanted to try something new (I guess), in the US. Rdio was run by VPs.
That's OK when things are going great and there's lots of money in the bank. It's not OK when the ship needs some founder-inspired steering in a storm. It's not OK when the ship is taking on water. It's not OK if there are signs of mutiny. It's not OK if pirates are about to board.
And it so happens that most startups tend to spend their lives navigating rough waters with not enough money in the bank and pirates in tow.
Do you think lack of founder attention negatively impacted lack of progress on the partnership/BD side? Seem to be key in the market (Spotify with Starbucks; Pandora in-car app).
Sad to see the "best" product in the market go under.
Can you elaborate on this? How was the leadership absent? and why do you think that was?