Is the "donor-advised fund" mentioned here similar to a "charitable remainder trust?" If so, this may just be a very astute tax planning strategy.
From what I've known, top engineers from VMware had moved to Bebop and recruiting was purely based on their previous performance and contacts with founding team at VMware.
Much of this discussion revolves around the perfectly legal tax avoidance mechanism utilized by Greene. Missing, though, is what exactly that revelation means. Are we advocating the removal of such mechanisms? Calling for an addition tax? Is there a bill I can advocate my senator to vote for? I do find such schemes interesting in their own right, but I can't quite shake the tone of indignation present in the discussion -- indignation that seems to lead nowhere.
(downvoted to -1 points yet again, even though it had 4 points)<p>46 days ago, on the original thread[1] announcing the acquisition, I wrote the following comment, which proceeded to get downvoted to the bottom.<p>"Did Diane's bebop even launch? I can't find their website. It is kind of frustrating that everybody involved (employees, investors) in bebop are getting a payday, without really putting in much work, or verifying their ideas. Just leaves a sour taste in my mouth (old boys network) as a two-time failed entrepreneur."<p>1. <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10597896" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10597896</a>
Is it just me, or is this deal somewhat shady? It just seems like acquiring the startup of one of your board members is one of those things you shouldn't do, for the sake of appearances if nothing else.<p>When Ralph Yarro was using pumped-up SCOX shares to acquire his side businesses, people were rightly suspicious, and lawsuits followed. Of course SCOX != GOOG in any way, but the activity seems analogous.