D2L is no longer a startup
This post is probably not very important (are they ever?). But I felt compelled to point out a few facts about Desire2Learn. This compelsion (that's a Barney Fife word) was fueled by recent news articles about D2L, like this one:
The Globe and Mail published this article about a new COO at D2L. Notice in the headline that they call D2L a "startup."
I'm not sure why they choose to use that term. How long exactly is a company called a startup?
The Globe and Mail published this article about a new COO at D2L. Notice in the headline that they call D2L a "startup."
I'm not sure why they choose to use that term. How long exactly is a company called a startup?
- D2L was founded in 1999. I guess that means that they'll be celebrating 13 years in business sometime this year.
- They currently have more than 600 clients and six million users.
- There are nearly 400 D2L employees located around the globe.
I have personally been a part of the D2L user community for over 8 years. Doesn't feel like a startup to me.
Comments
1) Draw parallels with Instructure, an upstart with more potential and creativity than all of D2L.
2) Connote an image of a "been-there-done-that" executive moving on to the next big thing (Heck, he pulled up RIM by their britches didn't he?).
3) Focus on the positive side of hiring a RIM executive, and ignore the more obvious, and relevant, overtures.
Startup Company
"Startup companies can come in all forms, but the phrase "startup company" is often associated with high growth, technology oriented companies. Investors are generally most attracted to those new companies distinguished by their risk/reward profile and scalability..."
"A company may cease to be a startup as it passes various milestones, such as becoming profitable, or becoming publicly traded in an IPO, or ceasing to exist as an independent entity via a merger or acquisition. Companies may also fail and cease to operate altogether."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_company