me + alex quit google. (dodgeball forever!!!!)
So.... Alex and I quit Google on Friday.
It's no real secret that Google wasn't supporting dodgeball the way we expected. The whole experience was incredibly frustrating for us - especially as we couldn't convince them that dodgeball was worth engineering resources, leaving us to watch as other startups got to innovate in the mobile + social space. And while it was a tough decision (and really disappointing) to walk away from dodgeball, I'm actually looking forward to getting to work on other projects again.
So, what's next? Starting today (Monday!) I'm joining the kids at area/code who are knee-deep in building all sorts of Big Games (remember PacManhattan? ConQwest?). Alex is moving on to IconNicholson where he took a gig as a Creative Strategist focusing on mobile and emerging technologies. (And sorry, but I don't know what Google has planned for dodgeball going forward.)
ps: Clear your calendar for this Saturday (April 21). A whole crew of us are dj'ing to celebrate our escape. (details + invite coming soon!)
Comments and faves
arainert, Lele Barnett, Nick Douglas, hober, and 142 other people added this photo to their favorites.
lia (63 months ago | reply)
golden handcuffs? or were you both just totally done?
(and congratulations!)
cdfio (63 months ago | reply)
scroogle.
;-)
Aaron Landry (63 months ago | reply)
Good luck Dens. Can't wait to see to see more stuff come out of area/code.
superkb (63 months ago | reply)
Free at last! Hooray!
M0rph3u (63 months ago | reply)
wow... that's like your icon... or ex-icon..
You earned both a lot of experience around social networks and mobile platforms.
This is just the beginning. I'm pretty sure a lot more will come out of your minds!
Mobile services can be very handy and people won't mind to pay for them.
Now, more than ever everybody is cellphone dependent.
Keep up the good work and good luck :)
mojo! (63 months ago | reply)
congrats. kick some butt.
Lele Barnett (63 months ago | reply)
congrats, dens! good luck on all of your future projects!
William C. Arter (63 months ago | reply)
the area/code trinity is complete!
editorlisa (63 months ago | reply)
Excited for you to get to innovate again, Dens. Good luck with the new endeavor!
Lawrence L (63 months ago | reply)
Will people be checking in on dball from the 4/21 party? You know, I can always sell you www.doucheball.com if you're interested in that...
Jen Bekman (63 months ago | reply)
Congrats! Welcome back to the entrepreneurial fold.
@harryh (63 months ago | reply)
Still sitting here feeling tempted to edit SplashPage.gxp....
@superamit (63 months ago | reply)
sweet. congrats, dennis! area/code is gonna rock even more now.
thincvox (63 months ago | reply)
dens, congrats on moving forward and making, what must've been, a tough decision. can't wait to see what you, kevin and frank start cooking up for everyone!
moleitau (63 months ago | reply)
congrats - looking forward to you 'droppin' 8-bit on reality'
TikTik (63 months ago | reply)
i feel bad for harry!
weblivz (63 months ago | reply)
Best of luck. We're doing some mobile stuff too and you're right, it's an area to be innovating in, not watching (too early to guarantee anything yet!).
ceonyc (63 months ago | reply)
Popsicle stand: blown. Good luck!
whatisee (63 months ago | reply)
Big news, you know what you want, and you're acting on it. Nothing beats that feeling.
Well, except I keep thinking I should have asked to stop by for lunch and now it's too late :)
leafy (63 months ago | reply)
... if i'm not having fun, i'm not doing it right ...
cacheop1 (63 months ago | reply)
you're in great company now at area/code
Poisson (63 months ago | reply)
rock on, gentlemen.
tssparky (63 months ago | reply)
Your friends at Kimmel Support you. Go forth and Kick Arse!
deepspaceresearch [deleted] (63 months ago | reply)
All the best for your future. Stand up for your dreams!
Jakob Lodwick [deleted] (63 months ago | reply)
I congratulate you on your willingness to give a thumbs-down to such an intimidating organization.
jjprojects (63 months ago | reply)
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with Google. That must have been really disappointing, but onward and upward :) Got for it.
hotlead (63 months ago | reply)
On to bigger and better things!
sahadeva (63 months ago | reply)
Hey Dennis! Rock on, and congratulations on area/code! Picked up the thread at AVC.
shi11 (63 months ago | reply)
Congrats! You're a rockstar .\../
dmakar (63 months ago | reply)
When's the six figure screwed by google book deal going to get signed?
geraci (63 months ago | reply)
Sweet, congrats on your newfound freedom. Looking forward to seeing what come next. And hey, can I get that autographed astronaut picture in the background? Whose autograph is on that, anyway??
schwa23 (63 months ago | reply)
wow. Congrats and good luck. Now you can go and build the NEXT next big thing.
eschipul (63 months ago | reply)
Congratulations and welcome back to innovation!
With the emergence of twitter it seems a shame that dodgeball was locked in sleep mode. Hard to think of google is anti-innovation in the mobile space, but there it is.
seanaes (63 months ago | reply)
good riddance. make the next big thing. quick hurry. best of luck guys.
Ken Berger (63 months ago | reply)
awesome. gives us more time to pose for pictures like this one:
valleywag.com/photogallery/techcrunchnyc/6208 43
shawnblog (63 months ago | reply)
I always wondered why I didn't see dodgeball take off the way I thought it would. It's such a great idea! You'll do great with whatever you turn your attention to.
mbukhin (63 months ago | reply)
Very cool Dens, good for you. Keep us posted on the escape party.
miserychick (63 months ago | reply)
always making big splashes, eh?
girl_onthe_les (63 months ago | reply)
wahooo party saturday!
matty_ (63 months ago | reply)
Nooooo! Everything is ruined! RUINED! Just kidding. Mazel tov on the move to bigger and better things, fellas. Woo!
mloco (63 months ago | reply)
sounds like a plan. congrats on getting out!
marisaolson (63 months ago | reply)
yay! congrats!!!!!! cu at rhizome party 2nite? xoxo!!!
Ben Brown (63 months ago | reply)
Good job!
michaelsharon (63 months ago | reply)
congrats! welcome to the office!
devittj (63 months ago | reply)
Sorry it didn't work out Dennis. Good luck with the new gig.
dedi (63 months ago | reply)
nice!
jonny goldstein (63 months ago | reply)
Hey Dens and Alex,
You guys rock! Google dropped the (dodge) ball on this one. Have fun at your next gigs.
edwardyanquen (63 months ago | reply)
why?
Atlantisa7 (63 months ago | reply)
haha :) i was wondering when this was going to happen...
gluck with the big gamers!!
banka (63 months ago | reply)
OMG google is the new M$ BBQFTW!1!!