TechBays

Jason Calacanis started the discussion with his 17 tips on saving money running a startup. In summary:

1. Buy Macintosh computers, and save money on an IT department.
2. Buy second monitors for everyone.
3. Buy everyone lunch four days a week and establish a no-meetings policy.
4. Buy cheap tables and expensive chairs.
5. Don’t buy a phone system.
6. Rent out your extra space.
7. Outsource accounting and HR
8. Don’t buy everyone Microsoft Office; use Google Docs.
9. Use free Google hosted email.
10. Buy your hardest working folks computers for home.
11. Fire people who are not workaholics. (updated later to: who don’t love their work)
12. Get an expensive, automatic espresso machine at the office.
13. Stock the fridge with sodas.
14. Allow folks to work off hours.
15. Go to each of your vendors 6-9 months and ask for 10-30% off.
16. Don’t waste money on recruiters.
17. Really think about if you need that PR firm.
18. [added later] Outsource to middle America.

Duncan Riley of Techcrunch doesn’t like tip#11 and replies that Calacanis fires people who have a life. Later Jason explained tip#11 and effectively changed it, as noted above.

Robert Scoble agrees with Jason saying startups can’t afford slackers.

Duncan Riley tells Robert, well, you can get fucked.

Michael Arrington of Techcrunch disagrees with his Duncan, and explains that startups must hire the right people and watch every penny.

Fred Wilson expounds some of Jason’s points and added utility infielders instead of specialists at the start. He further writes that Tony Wright puts all discussions in a better perspective.

There are so many good comments in each of the posts especially over at Techcrunch or Scobleizer.