It used to be that companies went public after achieving a modicum of success. There were business models, calculations, and plans, all based on real results and proven success.
Now it's all about potential. There are still plans and projections, but proven success has been hard to come by.
Remember, Pets.com had a plan. It was going to change the way we took care of our animal buddies. Only, it didn't. And now it's gone.
Kozmo.com was supposed to be a messenger service that embodied online delivery. It's gone, too.
Epidemic.com? Gone. WebVan? Gone. Lastminut.com? Gone. Dr. Koop? Gone.
Despite the media hoopla at the time, investors were ultimately left high and dry. And now it could happen again...
Twitter, the micro-blogging social media darling, has finally filed for its much ballyhooed IPO. And the valuations being assigned to it range from $12 billion to as much as $25 billion.
That's asinine for a company that hasn't shown any profit potential.
Twitter Inc. may make a fine trading instrument, as long as the party continues. But as an investment?