37signals, the Chicago-based startup that preaches against taking outside funding with the battle-cry of "less is less," has taken funding.
What? Can it be true? What is this world coming to?
Some are calling them sellouts but let's take a step back for a second to analyze the situation. 37signals has taken funding from Jeff Bozos, CEO of Amazon. I think we can all see that 37signals preaches "less" however sometimes it is important to build a business with a little help from a guiding voice. Jason Fried of 37signals had this to say on a recent post on Signals vs. Noise:
"It will be great learning from Jeff as we build 37signals into one the great companies of the next 20 years."
I do not think that 37signals needs the cash but I think they need it
to keep the 37signals' momentum going. I think they were interested in getting Jeff Bezos'
mentoring help to further the progression of 37signals for the
longevity of the company. It will be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully the move doesn't turn out a Chitown rendition of the Notorious B.I.G. song, Mo' Money Mo' Problems. With the extra voice in the clubhouse, I wonder if they are going to change its name to 38signals?