ActiveRain has been sold
The backstory is ActiveRain has officially been sold. Jonathan Washburn, co-founder and former (ousted according to sources) CEO of ActiveRain wrote on his blog on ActiveRain “Six amazing years after creating ActiveRain I’ve stepped down as ActiveRain CEO and I’m now focusing 100% of my business efforts on revolutionizing the daily deals industry through the DailyTicket community.” Control is now back in the hands of Market Leader, Inc. where former consultant, now CEO Nikesh Parekh has taken over the community, all of which has been happening in what seems slow motion for quite some time.
Latest development: AG was tipped early this morning to a blog post where Jorgen Hahn, former CTO, VP, Product Development opines:
A $60,000 Eulogy for ActiveRain
“Welcome dearly beloved, friends, and family. We are gathered here today to honor the memory of ActiveRain, taken from us before her time.
I haven’t known ActiveRain as long as many of you. We were introduced through a mutual friend early in 2008. Full of laughter and grace, I couldn’t help but fall in love, and committed myself fully to her free spirit during that perfect Washington summer.
Some are born to do great things. ActiveRain didn’t just provide a forum for real estate professionals and consumers; she fostered friendships and forged enduring connections that will last long after we’ve left this burial plot and her name is little more than a faded memory.
She didn’t talk much about the cancer. Jon cared for her tirelessly and believed, even until the bitter end, that he could save her. But ducem mercatum is an insidious disease and knows no cure.
Her grace under pressure should serve as an inspiration to all. After learning that Matt and James, once counted among her dearest friends, had sold her out to ducem mercatum for 30 pieces of silver, she simply smiled. No complaints or bitter recriminations accompanied the news of her now-certain death. When Jon was stripped of his power of attorney (née chairman of the board seat), leaving her adrift and under the care of “new management”, she offered no protest. And when death finally arrived, she passed secure in the knowledge that she had made a difference in the world.
A wealth of journals filled with wonderful memories still line her shelves. I know that she would want you to keep your writing alive, and encourage you to collect your belongings before the house is sold or razed.
Why the $60,000 eulogy? That’s the blood money her new caretakers offered me to reanimate her lifeless cadaver. I choose instead to remember her as she was on that summer day when we first met, full of life and ready to set the world on fire.
We will always love you, ActiveRain. Rest in peace.
Jorgen Hahn, former CTO, VP, Product Development, ActiveRain”
From Ian Morris, Market Leader, Inc.
“All of us at Market Leader are very excited to be broadening our already strong relationship with ActiveRain. As a company that is 100% dedicated to the success of real estate professionals, we share a common bond with ActiveRain, and are big supporters of the company and its community. As such, when two of ActiveRain’s early employees decided that it was time for them to cash out their stake in the business, we were happy strengthen our relationship and investment in the company.”
This quiet transition is now out of the bag and users are looking for reassurances and questioning why the warning from the former ActiveRain CTO, and what now, and in the future.
