Blockbusters in blogging

Here is an interesting story about how the founders of SixApart (Typepad and Movable Type) got into the business of blogging after the burst of the internet bubble earlier this decade.


"As Mena blogged, Ben became frustrated in his search for a decent computer programming job. While unemployed, Ben began to work on the computer code that became Movable Type.

When 100 people downloaded Movable Type during the first hour of its release in September 2001, the Trotts decided to run their own business from their bedroom, drawing the inspiration for the company name from their nearly identical age -- Ben and Mena were born six days apart in 1977.

The Trotts benefited from being at the right place at the right time.

Venture capitalist Joi Ito stumbled upon TypePad and began exploring an investment in Six Apart, but had trouble convincing the Trotts that they should think big.

'They weren't getting out much back then, so they didn't realize how popular this thing was becoming,' Ito said.

Ito arranged a meeting with a veteran executive, Barak Berkowitz, who listened to the Trotts' initial, modest business plan and told them that it sounded fine if they wanted to run the equivalent of a small corner store. The condescension infuriated Mena at first, but ultimately made her realize the company needed outside help to realize her dreams.

'We realized pretty quickly that we wanted to influence the future of blogging,' Mena said. 'We would have felt terrible if blogging became something big and we ended up only being a footnote.'"

Blockbusters in blogging: South Florida Sun-Sentinel: