In 1996 it was relatively easy to support organic web sites with a mix of paid subscriptions, e-commerce, and advertising. When combined the organic model essentially required serving the interests of the customer.

Then a trillion dollars flooded the medium from venture firms, investment banks, billionaires, multi-nationals, university endowments, and pension funds. Not to be left out, governments and non-profits joined the stamped and the greatest price war in human history ensued. Within a couple of years, if one didn’t have a Web site competing to give intellectual capital away for free; subsidized entirely by other means, well it just wasn’t socially acceptable—one didn’t exist! Read More