Something I wrote in a Skype chat to a collaborator:

Sent by my collaborator last night:

holy shmoly: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/08/edufire-raises-1-3-million-for-video-education-platform/

[08:37:02] Jason West says: Interesting, just read it and commented.  It is tough..taking VC money...they can exert incredible pressure and change things and will have an exit planned. It raises a lot of questions about educhange/edupunk...the Sex Pistols now do guest appearances for the money and John Lydon sells butter on UK TV :)

[08:39:13] Jason West says: What do you think?  Re: my comment....

My comment on techcrunch:

"Hearty congrats to Jon and the eduFire team…I just signed up after being sent your way. This is the future of education.

One cynical comment amidst all of the support above is testament to what you have created. But that one comment is sadly poignant.

Many ideas have been changed or diluted at the behest of those who didn’t have them. From what I have heard and read you are a passionate visionary. Keep trusting your judgement and defend your instinct.

All the best"

The cynical comment in the thread that I refer to is this:

Player Hater - September 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am CDT
"Sorry EduFire, the future is all about synchrous interactive online learning from talented instructors. $1.3 million won’t get you that. My prediction… some book publisher on its way to extinction acquires EduFire as its last desperate hope. JB still wins, so good for you I

guess".

Skype chat contd...

I just thought it might be interesting to say something other than 'well done'...the coffee has definitely been smelt in the halls of capitalism :)

[08:42:50] Jason West says: I am not against money, I need EOT to make some money soon and that ELT publishing person in the US has sent me a contract for her to represent EOT with publishers for distribution...I need to read it carefully and make sure it does not interfere with anything we want to do online but it does raise the reality of having to go to the table with people who have steadfastly impeded educational progress for so long.

[08:43:20] Jason West says: This is all going to be very interesting indeed.  I think we need a full discussion at some point :)

It's a tough one isn't it?  I have been courted and needed money and it has been difficult because we all started out wanting the same thing but pressure has a habit of building up if things don't go to plan (and they never do!). People have a habit of exerting their will and that can change the focus or even the ideals of what was there and so attractive in the first place. We live in a capitalist world and capital talks and moulds for it own ends and it takes strong people, and cleverer people than me to resist and stay true. Hell, when push comes to shove and someone is waving a big cheque and with it the promise of no more grief under your nose, who wouldn't be tempted?

I'm not saying that is what has happened here, far from it, I understand from those that know him that the founder of EduFire is a terrific bloke and a visionary and this is all part of his plan. And why not use other peoples' money to further the cause of educhange, it makes sense and it is the logical next step, of course. I just wanted to highlight some of the thoughts that owners of start-ups go over in their minds when working out how to keep the momentum going whilst not losing control, diluting or dulling the spark that lit the fire in the first place.