Entrepreneur and investor Rick Marini recalls Grindr's public debut on the New York Stock Exchange.
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Marini: Grindr turnaround team terminated 70% of employees
“We ended up, and we don't normally do this terminating 70% of the employees, because it just, they were C players, and we wanted at least A minus players, if not A players, right?”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Marini: Conservative ICs and Middle East Investors Refused to Buy Grindr
“Now, because Grindr is focused on LGBTQ, it was really interesting. A lot of the traditional buyers were not there in the process. There was always like someone conservative on the investment committee that was like, we can't touch that. We went to try to rais…”
What-if
Marini: FTX would probably be world's largest exchange without Alameda scandal
“Now, if they had never done that FTX would still be around and they'd probably be the biggest exchange in the world.”
Opinion
Marini: Gary Gensler's SEC refused to offer clear crypto guidelines
“Previously the SEC head of the SEC, Gary Gensler, didn't want to give specific guidelines on what we need to do. It was more about, well, if we don't like it, we're going to come after you. And, you know, that's not a good way to grow an industry.”
Opinion
Marini: Crypto is a terrible tool for criminals compared to cash
“Everything is, is traced on the blockchain. Like, crypto is a terrible place for criminals to move money because it's actually traceable on the blockchain. US dollars or any hard currency is much easier to be able to do nefarious things than having a currency …”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Marini: Only five employees held equity at Grindr before turnaround
“There's only five people that had equity.”