All In Startup: Launching a New Idea When Everything Is on the Line

Chapter 2You’re Not Fooling Anyone

Sam had immediately recognized him for what he was. He was in shape, wearing a work polo with sleeves that were too tight. The company logo and lack of funky glasses ruled out advertising industry. The tip-top shape, khakis, and polo screamed some hip business. He was a small-business owner who had hit it big or at least big enough to come to the World Series of Poker. Sam hadn’t even really wanted to talk to him, but across the bar she couldn’t make out the logo on his shirt. So she had approached. As she approached, he kept staring. An introduction was going to happen. She wasn’t shy about that.

ReBicycle? What was that? Since selling Sparksys, Sam had followed plenty of startups. She was sure she had never heard of ReBicycle. She would have recognized the terrible name immediately. Was it possible she was losing her grip on startup news?

Sam’s interest in ReBicycle was piqued. She had a feeling it was used bicycles of some sort, but the ambiguous name left it unclear. She was willing to put up with his small talk to find out. Plus, he was ultra-fit, although a little thin.

Sam’s theory was confirmed when he didn’t offer to buy her a drink in the first sentence. If he was looking to do the horizontal mambo with her this evening, he would have tried to pump alcohol in her at the earliest possible opportunity. As it was, she was going to have to pump alcohol in herself. Jeez, wouldn’t founders like this guy ever learn to have fun, too?

After ...