Category Archives:ValleyVocab

May. 31.

ValleyVocab: Vaporware

By TheValleyByte | Posted in ValleyVocab |
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Vaporware:  the term for a product that is announced to the public but is never actually released (or canceled), and often was never intended to happen.  It is typically used to create hype, or to persuade customers to not switch brand loyalty.

 

 

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May. 27.

ValleyVocab: to Pivot

By TheValleyByte | Posted in ValleyVocab |
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To Pivot: to quit working on a product that wasn’t working in favor of a new startup idea.

 

‘So your pinterest-for-cats startup failed?’

‘No man, we pivoted.  Now we’re working on twitter for dogs.’

 

‘I’m not leaving you.  I’m pivoting to another man.’    -The New Yorker

 

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May. 26.

ValleyVocab: MBA seeking technical co “founder”

By TheValleyByte | Posted in ValleyVocab |
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Used to describe the ambitious MBA student who wants all the technical advantages of a technical co-founder without giving up any control of the venture.

 

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May. 25.

ValleyVocab: Cougar, Puma, Cub

By TheValleyByte | Posted in ValleyVocab |
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A cougar is a woman 40+ who only dates young men.  She must be at least 10 years older than the young man, who is often referred to as a cub.  Some define puma as a younger cougar–perhaps in the late 30s dating a guy in his early 20s–but puma is less frequently used.

There are even cougar conventions and parties in the Bay Area.

But why are Palo Alto and Menlo Park so famous for their cougars?  The first national cougar convention was actually held in Palo Alto.

 

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May. 17.

Valley Vocab: To get Winklevied

By TheValleyByte | Posted in ValleyVocab |
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To get Winklevied:  When someone who was only tangentially involved in your startup sues you for stock after you’re successful.

 

Your former roommate’s brother wants 25% of the company because he helped design the original graphic?  Congrats, you just got Winklevied.  (Even in Silicon Valley, victory has a thousand fathers.)


Update: a source tells us that to get Winklevied can actually mean you were the victim–your evil co-founder stole the company from you.  Thoughts?  We thought Winklevied only carried sore-loser connotations, but correct us if we’re wrong.

 

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