Google acquires Ruba.com (opens in new tab)

(ruba.com)

48 pointsilike15y ago15 comments

15 comments

Ruba is not acquired by google. The Ruba team is just working with iGoogle team.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/google-acquires-travel-guid...

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more.

Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

random4215y ago

Yeah, probably. But Ruba is not acquired YET and my personal experience (very limited, I must admit), tells me not to jump to conclusions. :-)

1 more reply

cmelbye15y ago

1. Unsatisfied with working at Google, Googler leaves to become a founder at a startup

2. Startup does stuff that Google wants

3. Google acquires startup, Googler is back at Google

4. ???

5. Profit!!

2 more replies

jacquesm15y ago

I wished people would use the word 'acquires' to describe those situations where a succesful start-up is bought by a larger company, not as a fig-leaf for dismembering a not-so-hot start-up or worse.

rwhitman15y ago

I feel like companies throw this around as a feelgood term to try and boost the esteem of the team after a liquidation.

For the founders it boosts their profile with one last feature on Techcrunch & in their resumes for the next job by touting "acquired by X" when in fact it was liquidated to X as a fire sale.

mikeryan15y ago

Congrats to the CEO of Ruba for looking out for his team enough to find them jobs before dissolving the company.

I'd jump on this guys next gig in a heartbeat.

bdr15y ago

There's another ex-Googler "local guide" startup at http://www.nextstop.com/. I wonder how they feel about this.

rwhitman15y ago

Considering that Ruba was identical in most ways to Nextstop I imagine its a weird turn of events for them. If they ever wanted to be acquired by Google they probably just lost that opportunity

borism15y ago

how many ex-Googlers would want to be acquired back by Google? this is getting ridiculous :)

jbellis15y ago

... ruba will be closing shortly.

/cynical

huherto15y ago

Good for them! But it doesn't say what will happen with their service.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

15 comments

random4215y ago

Ruba is not acquired by google. The Ruba team is just working with iGoogle team.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/google-acquires-travel-guid...

davidu15y ago

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more.

Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

random4215y ago

Yeah, probably. But Ruba is not acquired YET and my personal experience (very limited, I must admit), tells me not to jump to conclusions. :-)

1 more reply

cmelbye15y ago

1. Unsatisfied with working at Google, Googler leaves to become a founder at a startup

2. Startup does stuff that Google wants

3. Google acquires startup, Googler is back at Google

4. ???

5. Profit!!

2 more replies

jacquesm15y ago

I wished people would use the word 'acquires' to describe those situations where a succesful start-up is bought by a larger company, not as a fig-leaf for dismembering a not-so-hot start-up or worse.

rwhitman15y ago

I feel like companies throw this around as a feelgood term to try and boost the esteem of the team after a liquidation.

For the founders it boosts their profile with one last feature on Techcrunch & in their resumes for the next job by touting "acquired by X" when in fact it was liquidated to X as a fire sale.

mikeryan15y ago

Congrats to the CEO of Ruba for looking out for his team enough to find them jobs before dissolving the company.

I'd jump on this guys next gig in a heartbeat.

bdr15y ago

There's another ex-Googler "local guide" startup at http://www.nextstop.com/. I wonder how they feel about this.

rwhitman15y ago

Considering that Ruba was identical in most ways to Nextstop I imagine its a weird turn of events for them. If they ever wanted to be acquired by Google they probably just lost that opportunity

borism15y ago

how many ex-Googlers would want to be acquired back by Google? this is getting ridiculous :)

jbellis15y ago

... ruba will be closing shortly.

/cynical

huherto15y ago

Good for them! But it doesn't say what will happen with their service.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse