Silicon Valley’s bad boy Sean Parker is back in the start-up game. The 28-year-old, who in the past has been associated with fast growing Internet phenomena such as Napster, Plaxo and Facebook, is working on an ultra stealthy start-up that is going to be tackling the “activism” space.
We picked up this rumor over the weekend while chatting with some Silicon Valley insiders. We admit we are short on details, but are digging hard for more information, and will be updating the post as we find out more information. The company hasn’t decided on a name just yet, and will launch later this summer, our sources say.
Parker was a co-founder at Napster and then at Plaxo, and later founding president at Facebook. He left the college-focused social network in 2005, and recently joined San Francisco-based The Founders Fund, a venture capital fund started by Peter Thiel, who in past life had co-founded PayPal.
Though he is still a managing partner at Founders Fund, Parker is currently rumored to be devoting all his energies on this new company. Parker is a colorful fella, often subject of speculative gossip in Silicon Valley. Why else would we be talking about him on the weekend, right? Regardless, there is no denying that he has a knack for smelling opportunity, especially when it comes to the consumer Internet.
He often finds viral-growth business opportunities – a trait three of his more known endeavors share. If he has figured out a similar opportunity in the “activism” space, then it might turn out to be a worthy cause.
13 comments so far
4:06 AM PT
Why is this news, Om?
This insignificant little git is of no more interest than being an also-ran in three badly failed start-ups.
That’s hardly a qualification for coverage by a serious news organization.
Just by covering this idiot, you’re endorsing a non-entity, because he has certain keywords on his resume.
Being a “bad boy” is not interesting. Anybody can be a “bad boy”. Invite me to your next party and I promise I will be a bigger cock than any Napster-founding tosser could ever manage.
Rise above. Cover interesting. Not cocks.
Kev
7:26 AM PT
I was going to contribute an informative comment, but your immature and pointless graphic pretty much eliminated my desire to do so. Just sayin’.
Oh, and Kevin Murphy — criticism, from a guy who runs a blog called “Texturbation”? You can’t possibly be serious…
I really don’t understand why all of the bloggers feel a need to paint Parker as a “bad boy.” Large numbers of Silicon Valley executives could be easily labeled “alcoholic douchebags,” but I don’t see any of that happening … What gives? He isn’t young enough for you to hate him solely based on his age, so I’m thinking it’s just a general desire to find some sort of tabloid-type story to increase the traffic?
8:07 AM PT
What is this new category ‘activism’? Web 2.0 and its term never end to dazzle me !!
10:36 AM PT
Om, this may be a case of mistaken identity. Check out this site, by a different Sean Parker:
http://www.teenactivist.org/
12:16 PM PT
isn’t it called “The Essembly”?
1:45 PM PT
Darius,
it is not a case of mistaken identity. I am talking about the one who has been involved with Facebook etc.
Hope that clarified.
1:46 PM PT
Kevin,
why is it interesting: well whatever anyone thinks of Sean, he is a good trend spotter and is someone who has been pretty accurate in picking out what could be big next.
Why is this news? Come on in the same way Gary Sheffield’s next team is news - this is news as well.
9:16 PM PT
What, did he get kicked out of Facebook too??
11:39 AM PT
I agree with Numair and Om, like it or not Sean Parker has a damned good eye for trends. I’ve often said that between this and Peter’s ability to forecast commodities markets, they could run a psychic reading business.
10:14 PM PT
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2:38 AM PT
“Silicon Valley insiders”? This was announced at a public event at Stanford on February 15h.
7:29 AM PT
[...] 最近，慈善網路創業在美國又因為一則消息而紅了起來，這則消息先由GigaOm率先披露，接著是TechCrunch、VentureBeat、ValleyWag然後GigaOm自己跟著熱烈討論，原來，曾參與Napster、Plaxo、Facebook創辦、現年才27歲的知名連續創業家Sean Parker，最近一年時間都花在他自己準備開設的公益型的秘密創業點子「Project Agape」，希望利用他從前成功參與創立的這些網站所學到的「細菌般的感染法」來運用在慈善、公益、社會活動。Agape並不是第一個被這些部落客稱為「很酷」的慈善網站點子，之前早已有Kiva.org讓網友直接借錢給非洲某位小本創業家（或許他只需要100美元買兩頭牛），另外還有DonorsChoose.org讓公立學校老師們為班級的某些專案作小額募款，捐款人自行選班捐款；SixDegrees提供公益的widget，JustGive.org提供「非捐錢」之外的選擇，Change.org則鼓勵網友將他們的公益想法提出（並接受相關廣告洗禮）。如果將這些點子一語蔽之，通通一句話歸為「社會創業家」或「慈善點子」，就真的太可惜了。仔細觀賞這些慈善型的網站點子，會發現它們其實為行之百年的老慈善產業，做了一個前所未有的新畫分。 [...]
1:05 PM PT
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