What do you do, when all your life you have chased scoops, and then got scooped on your own news? You tip the hat to the person who beat you to your own story. As kids would call it, I got punked by Valleywag.
I wanted to wait till end of this month, to announce my decision to strike out on my own, and my role within Business 2.0 going forward. I wanted to call people I love and respect, and tell them individually. An archaic notion in this era of email, IM and broadband – but still! And then life happened. I will get to my future plans later in this post, but for a few minutes indulge me.
How do you leave a magazine, which has been part of your life for over three years? How do you put a full stop to a process that has helped you become a better writer, a better journalist, and a better person? How do you end relationships you have formed over that period? You don’t. And when my editor, Josh Quittner, made me an offer to write a column and be a contributing editor, it did not even take a second for me to say yes. I have often said, that ink not blood runs in my veins, and I love magazines.
So why leave? Two reasons!
Vincent, in response to a post on the site, had said, “Remember what they say folks: those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” I have written about start-ups for so long, and have always wanted to see if I had the chops to build something from scratch. With well wishes and support of my community, I hope I can.
The other reason is the fundamental change in the media consumption patterns. In the past, I worked for Forbes.com, arguably one of the more successful media properties on the web, and learnt some vital lessons about online media. From the mid-1990s to today, we have seen some stellar brands emerge such as News.com. They are living proof that large online media properties are a viable business.
And just as Internet spawned these brands, broadband is bringing about a fundamental change in the way people consume information. Blogs are a part of it, just like video sharing sites, or Digg.com or Newsvine. You have mash-ups and maps. You have open APIs to play around with. In other words, the entire ecosystem is going through a change. This change represents opportunity.
A few years ago, I wrote about the rise of the micropubs, and how that could help one or two person editorial teams to be successful building niche media properties. Paidcontent’s Rafat Ali has been a pioneer of micro-pubs, and then we have Mike Arrington and Techcrunch, celebrating its first anniversary today. (Congrats, Mike!)
Their success has given me strength to make the decision to go out and try something of my own. While I will be devoting more time to GigaOM’s content, I have some other ideas including developing web services that enhance the experience of my reader community. You will see these ideas unfold over a period of time, and hopefully you will enjoy them as much I would in creating them. Unlike those of you who are blessed with the smarts, I have to bring in outside help – smart engineers and code jocks. Thus, the need for some venture funding.
Perhaps, I am burying the lead (my B2 editors would say – there he goes again.) I have raised a tiny amount of money from True Ventures, a new very early stage fund based here in Silicon Valley. (The amount remains undisclosed.)
Tony Conrad, co-founder of Sphere.com and Toni Schneider, CEO of Automattic and a partner at True Ventures, introduced me to Jon Callaghan, general partner at True VP. I had met Toni when I wrote about his start-up, Oddpost a while ago. While reporting the story, I met Conrad, and we got to know each other well.
I had gone around and met with a lot of venture capitalists in the valley, who gave me some stellar feedback, and helped me craft a game plan. When I ran it by Tony and Toni, he suggested that perhaps it was time for me to meet with Phil Black and Jon Callaghan. They liked what I had to say, and decided to make their new fund’s first ever investment in GigaOM.
It is a big change for me, and hopefully all of you – my super-smart readers who have also become friends – will join me in this journey, and offer me advice, guidance and tips. It wouldn’t be fun otherwise.
Congrats buddy! I can’t wait to drop all the new hotness!
Congratulations on the new funding and welcome to the StartUp world!
hey Om! Wish you the very best in your new venture and hope to read tons more on your blog soon!
Congrats! You will love being an entrepreneur, I guarantee it :)
Best of luck!
Congrats OM for the funding.
All the best for the new venture.
Congrats & Wish you Good Luck Om
Congrats Om on making the big move and best wishes for the build-out!
Good Luck!
Om, I used to have thick, dark hair…now I have some left mostly grey…but I blame my wife, not my startup…welcome, fellow sucker, I mean entrepreneur…congrats!
Kick-ass post, Om! Thanks for the props — but you know better than anyone, scooping is 10% making the right IM buddies and 90% showing up!
And that seed money means you’re buying drinks next time.
I am not buying Business 2.0 anymore :)
Congratulations and I am sure that this will be a successful venture! Good luck!
You have been my Guru in this new change of face for Internet. I started to read blogs from yours and like every programmer starts with “Hello World!” I start with subscribing to and reading your feeds.
I live in India and not really bothered by US Boradband featured in your articles, but I read your every feed.
In all probability you will win, all thumbs up.
-Nitin
Congratulations Om!
With your connections, experience and smart money behind you…it’s going to be a hell of a ride.
Good luck Om. Try not to be too bloggy.
om san – as always, X-cellent post – congrats!!
tc
Congrats OM! You’re an entrepreneur now. You have the chops to pull it off. I think that you picked a bad time to quit smoking or was it sniffing glue ;-)
Looking forward to working with you sometime soon.
John
Congratulations Om!
Best of luck in your new venture which I will be following closely. (Your mother must be very proud.)
Kathleen Mullenweg
I look forward to those apps, and to continuing posts here. Life must be very exciting for you at this point :) Good luck, and have fun!
“Regret for what you have done is tempered by time. Regret for what you have not done is inconsolable.”
I am very proud of you for making the move, and wish you lot’s of fun and success in the new adventure. I know that there are nothing but great things to come from you and Gigaom! Always here for you buddy…
best,
Saar
Whosoever knows Om obtains all that he desires. :)
Go get it Om.
Nag .B /at/
StartupHubs.com
Mubarak Ho, Om, (Congratulations, Om)
Wish you the very best,
Where do I sign up for my subscription to GigaOm?
mp
Congrats Om! I was just recalling that your first ever podcast experience was on G’Day World back in December 2004. And Scoble’s first podcast was also on our show right after you! So much has happened since then…
Congrats and Good luck.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll be doing with your time.
Congratulations Om – excited to read this news.
Om, I believe that you’ll enjoy tremendously the adventures ahead. I look forward to seeing what you’ve got in the cooker.
Calvin
I’ve said it to you already, but good luck my friend. :)
If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.
Congrats, although it does make your quick Daily Om on my comment seem funny. ;)
Have fun and looking forward to the next stage!
Congrats and all the best Om! I am hoping to run into you later this month at Marc Canter’s open house or elsewhere!
Congratulations! There’s no place like Om.
Scott
superior lamb chops at pakwan?? phhlleeease :) Om, now that you are an entrepreneur you need to switch gears: watch the owner-chef @ lahore karahi (lv & of) take your order, cook far better lamp chops you ever had (not to mention the best tandoori fish this side of the indus) and make you a lifelong customer with his million watt smile.
good luck!!
Congratulations Om, and have fun!
Congrats, Om and All the very best!
Congrats Man! It should be a great ride. All the best.
Om,
I have been an ardent reader of yours since long… Wishing you all the success in your entrepreneurial venture…
Siva.
Om:
Thanks for your example. Your words and generous spirit always spoke volumes. You’re the heart of the matter. You’re going to be missed. Best wishes in this exciting venture!
Hurray, Om joins the fray!
I know you’ll rock hard, best of luck!
Share and Enjoy!
Cheers, Marko
has blogging has finally jumped the shark ?
Om,
Congrats & Goodluck for your new venture.
Vijay.
First Scoble, now you. Who’s next? ;-)
Can you please tell a bit about your startup? Congrats anyway!
Good Luck ! and I’m looking forward for your success in personal blogging field, then lead to a successful profit earning model for others.
congrats on the news and funding, om – really looking forward to seeing your idea come together
Congratulations Om, obviously you’ve built something noteworthy at GigaOM (who DOESN’T read it?) and it’ll be interesting to see whether you can carve out a bigger part of the economics than you would’ve as a senior writer at a conventional publication.
I look forward to bigger and better things,
Jason
OM – Just waking up to the news! Wow man congratulations!
Can’t wait to read/see where you are headed…
Best of luck!
Congrats, OM. Am so glad you have decided to take the plunge.
All the very best, in career and in life…:)
congratulations!! rock and roll
All the best and thanks for the inspirtion
willem
Congrats Om! You’re an inspiration. :) Good luck.
Hi Om,
I had been reading your articles for a while. I can’t wait to see a new venture from yours.
Hearty Wishes, dear friend!!! :)
Regards
Manoj
Best of Luck Om & Congratulations. Ive found GigaOM both informing and prime example of Internet journalisim done right. Im certainly looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us in the future !
Kind regards
Brian H Fitzsimons
Dublin, Ireland
May I suggest a Good VOIP Biz Phone from me???????
Congrats Dude!!! Hope your moving to “”LIVE VIDEO Vlogging”’
Skibare
Best wishes on the new venture. Looking forward to hearing about the details.
You were/are my inside man for industry news ( I work in an interactive advertising firm for one of the big MSO’s) -Good Luck!
That’s awesome, Om. Congrats.
yourethemannowdog.com
-s.
GigaOM is the first site I load every morning (well, right after GMail). My new job has me focused on broadband and multimedia applications, and this is the best site for late-breaking, unbiased info. I can’t wait to see how much better it can get.
Best of luck!!
Good luck, OM.
Can’t wait to see what you’ve been cooking up.
Jacob.
congrats Om, don’t stop the onpodsessions…
Congrats Om! Best of luck.
–Pete
Congrats Om, but I hope we dont get charged anytime soon to read ur blog :)
All the very best, Om. Hope GigaOm becomes the next CNET or even better. Also hope you will not start charging us $ for content. :)
Congrats! Best
Om,
Entrepreneurship is all about blind optimism and twenty four hour paronia. So good luck, sleeping with one eye open.
But then the rewards are worth it!
Wish you the best of luck and fortune.
Best of luck OM… I left the VC business because I was bitten by the bug once again… there is nothing like building a company. Hence… this is my 5th startup in 16 years :-)
I know that you will do well. I look forward to seeing it unfold!
Clarence
CollectiveX.com
You’ll do great. Be sure to have fun while doing it.
Best of luck…
Awesome Om! You’re on it.
God bless!
Rick
Best of Luck, Om.
When I was a kid (80s GenX), we called it an “Okie Doke” which means “a dirty trick”.
But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get the last laugh all the way to the bank.
As we used to say in the 80s, “You are funky fresh.” “totally awesome.”
Om,
Congratulations! I’ll be reading. I love your site and have used it for some time to stay in the loop as far as broadband and startups are concerned (despite being in Michigan!). Thank you and best of luck!
Reilly Brennan
I’m proud of you Om. This was a big step off of the secure ladder of a Time Warner masthead for you but one that’s well timed and perfect given your vision.
Way to go. This is a long way from that little room on 60th Fifth Avenue in the spring of 1995.
http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=607
Congrats and good luck! This kind of groundbreaking stuff is what legends are made of!
Congrats and good luck with things, Om…
My best wishes! Going alone requires a tremendous amount of courage and it’s insipring to see someone make the move.
Congratulations. Looking forward to seeing your ideas that add to the evolution of great micropubs, like GigaOm.
Go for it…swing for the fences!
All the best OM. I recall you reader survey here
I thought at that time, you have a mighty good readership and a very influential one. Hope you can leverage it.
Congrats! Best of luck.
Congratulations Om!
You have are too big of a thinker not to be doing your own thing. I heard you speak at Mesh and was so impressed with your big-picture view of everything and down-to-earth approach.
I look forward to seeing your efforts unfold.
Hi Om,
congrats from all of us at pMachine! Looking forward to what’s coming.
Valleywag scooping Om himself – now that is classic. Om is the master of scoops. I look forward to reading many more Om!!
Best wishes,
Thomas
Congratulations Om!
Remember, if you don’t swing for the fences, you’ll never knock it out of the park.
Great news! The evolution of Om.
Good luck, Om! :) Let us know how we can help!
go Om, go GigaOm
Heartfelt congratulations.
Kudos Om. your the top of the RSS feeds I track. Good luck on your venture!
Congratulations Om. Change is good ;-)
Congrats, Om!
All the best Om for your new venture. !
Rajan
Congrats, OM! Best of luck in your new venture! – Lish
The first $100 million is the hardest. After that, it is smooth sailing! Just ask Clark McLeod! :)
All jokes aside, congratulations, and good luck!
Lisa, Katie, Lucy, Jack & I wishing you the best of luck.
Woohoo!
The best news in a very long time. Congratulations!
Congrats. Dinner at Steak Frites
Looking forward to seeing Om unleashed…
DF
Allow me to join the chorus of folks wishing you well in your new media experiment. No matter what happens, you’re gonna have fun. ;-)
What a huge step for you! Your timing is perfect, and I can’t wait to watch all the success of the bigger and better GigaOm. Congrats and good luck.
Okay, now I tip my hat to you and the “Sales Pitch”! Welcome to the club and best of luck!
Another one bites the dust ;) Congrats!
om,
i’ve read this blog for sometime now.
to be blunt i love your take on tech and trust your opinion.
i can’t wait to see what develops and will promote your ventures to my network tirelessly.
impressed and hopeful,
will
Great news.
Would love to see more innovations in the media business.
Good luck.
Brij
Best of luck Om, I am absolutely sure that you will do well in your upcoming endeavors. :)
Om,
Best of luck to you. Congrats on the funding and most importantly, congrats on making the leap to follow your dream. We’re looking forward to hearing about your experiences as a entrepreneur.
Pankaj
So glad you took the leap. Now don’t do anything stupid like not innovate or anything. You have a chance to change the rules, so do it!
And let us all know if you need help. ;-)
SD
Om,
Congrats. Glad you are finally realizing the dream that you’ve been brewing for a while.
Best of luck!
Brad
Congratulations on following your dreams, Om. Don’t let anyone get in the way of that, ever.
I wish you all the best of luck with your future plans.
Daanish
Congratulations, Om! Best of luck.
Congrats OM… Good stuff. Just shoot me an email if I can be of help (anything mobility)…
ceo
Good luck OM! “Go get ‘em” as they say..
Dear Om,
The ferocity of posting and expanse of coverage on gigaom did have inklings of it being something more than just a hobby blog. (I remember some of those mid-night postings). I was actually expecting & “hoping” that one day you’ll get on to it full time into all this.
Good luck Bhaaji
-Aseem
Hey welcome to the entrepreneurs world :-)
-Bala
Congrats Om !
We’re honored to be involved with you and GigaOm.
You’ve got the entrepreneurial brilliance and depth of integrity that makes our job as a VC a True privilege.
Thanks for your confidence in us.
My best,
Jon
Congrats Om!
We’re honored to be involved with you and GigaOm.
You’ve got the entrepreneurial brilliance and depth of integrity that makes our job as a VC a true privilege (pun intended, of course).
Thanks for your confidence in us.
My best,
Jon
Congratulations on the new venture, Om!
From a fan (and newly minted blogger.)
–eric
Hey Om, Its really great to hear tht you are leaving to do what u do the best, Blog. In this age and time, guess its the Big Personalities rather than Big media companies which make headlines. A prudent decision. All the Very Best.
Good move, I would say.
Congratulations and all the best.
Congratulations and BIG thumpsup for taking the plunge. You are already more than a journalist to the blogosphere and the tech world. We look forward to further enrichment of the web experience as you move from the Business 2.0 to Web 2.0 world.
congratulations om
sounds very interesting
can’t wait to hear more
fred
Om Malik is our “Uncle King” ;)
OM – “Uncle” in Dutch
MALIK – “King” in Arabic
Congrats!!!!
Big congrats!…hope you have lots of caffeine ;)
Best of luck, OM!
Buona fortuna Om!
don’t remeber the first time I hit your blog but since then I read it every day. I know broadband world from tech side already but you open a window on that world with a completely different perspective… so this will be just one of the 100th and something comment but there’s really a special occasion here!
Really thanks for what you are doing!
Giovanni
Congrats OM! I knew you could do it!
Samya
Congrats OM!!
Congratulations Champ!
We always knew you had it in you; that itch that drives us to create.
We’re looking forward to watching your venture unfold. I’m sure I speak on behalf of the hundreds of startups that you’ve helped over the years — let us know how we can return the favor.
Best of luck!
That rocks! Good luck and hope to follow your journal in the future too.
Beautiful post. Best wishes. You may want to correct the title, though. It’d be a shame to reduce the impact due to bad grammar. Try “It’s Time to Transition”…
hi om,
I’ve been your reader the past few months. have enjoyed the scoops you brought.
interesting to see where your new journey takes you. I hope you will keep blogging!’
BR,
~A
Congrats on the new move OM. Let me know if we can help you out in any way.
-Ash Kumra
http://www.desiyou.com
Om shanti shanti shanti. Congrats!
Congrats Om! It was amazing meeting you at Mesh Conference and enlightening to hear you speak. I know that you will succeed tremendously at your new endeavor.
Congrats.
This mean you’re moving back to NYC?
Brother Om-you da man. Best of luck in your new venture. Yet another exciting thing to know about and look forward to from the multi-talented Om Malik. We all expect good things!
Anyones knows about the funding Om got, my reliable sources say its 10 million $$$s.
I am just kidding, tried to act like Om :)
Congrats and Best of Luck !
Om–Congrats from the gang at FM! Exciting times.
Chas
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see you fly!
Congrats, and good luck.
hey Om: looks like I am late and just catching up…whats going on? well …go for it. What the heck! Normal is boring…best wishes for an enRICHing & JOYful ride!!!!!!
Om Shanti :)
Om,
Congrats to you and your partners on what will be a great success and wonderful journey.
Keep on writing. We’re all looking forward to what’s to come! Congrats.
I’ll miss your insights. Rock On and best wishes. Love U man!
Good-luck with your new start-up. How it works out.
Love from Dover, England
Congrats Om, call me sometime!
Long time listener, first time commenter…
Congrats and good luck!!
Congratulations! Very Nice Sir Malik! Your journey sounds like an adventurous roadtrip. Let’s have some fun, it’s important :)
Gr,
Trung Huynh from the Netherlands…
Congrats Om! As an avid reader I know you will succeed. Good luck.
Smart move! I quit my job as journo in 1998 to devote more time to my online business, and I’ve never regretted it.
Even a bad day working for yourself is better than a good day as as a wage slave.
All the best,
…All glory comes from daring..to begin.
Congrats, Om
You’re really getting more and more GIGANTIC!
This post was linked to from the SitePoint Tribune newsletter where Brendon Sinclair talks about how having a blog is good for your brand.
http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=2&issue=346&format=html
Good luck.
wow–what an announcement: OM Malik, loose agent.
only OM could make a splash amidst world cup fever!
champne toast, my friend.
I agree with you about the rise of the MicroPubs. I’d be delighted to buy you a drink in London to discuss such things, if you ever find yourself over here!
Al the best Om. Keep doing what you are doing…dont make major changes… we love your blog how it is right now…just give us more!
Brilliant blog you have .I like the comments and topics you discuss here.Although this is not the information,I was hoping to find with my search.I believe it’s great when you come across a genuine subject that makes sense.Good luck in all your endeavors.If you have the chance.Maybe you could stop by my new web site.How to Start a Home Business and Create
Wealth from Scratch!
Brilliant blog you have .I like the comments and topics you discuss here.Although this is not the information,I was hoping to find with my search.I believe it’s great when you come across a genuine subject that makes sense.Good luck in all your endeavors.If you have the chance.Maybe you could stop by my new web site.How to get free internet advertising.
I consider that beside Your site there is future!m