So, Emerce is to blame for reporting a bankruptcy and show the picture of its founder? And destroy his career? We're sorry, but Emerce reported probably 30 or so bankruptcies this year alone, including startups. And unless Mr. Van Leeuwen, we don't think a bankrupcy is a crime.<p>Also, Mr Van Leeuwen seems to think we couldn't reach the founder, while he himself 'had absolutely no trouble reaching him'. Actually, we left a message at a mobile number mentioned at the site and then called the main venture capitalist, who promised to call us back later that day to explain what happened. I made another attempt much later that day after the story was published, but unfortunately couldn't reach no one again.<p>However, could it be that there are some personal axes to grind? Unless the founder of the bankrupt company, I know Vincent. He turned up 20 - 30 minutes late on an interview with Emerce some time ago. He wasn't too happy with my draft, and I wasn't too happy with his comments, and told him turning up late at interview for a big publication wasn't a good idea. We managed to agree on a final draft, though, and I'm sure his company enjoyed the publicity.<p>So, blaming Emerce for 'not stepping up for entrepreneurial culture' is unfair.
Sorry, to say that ,but if a journalist is able to destroy your friends business, maybe the business wasn't that valid to begin with? Why did nobody trust it that much, that a simple press release on the start-ups page would counter the journalist's arguments?<p>Your polemic rant does nothing to explain, helps nobody - not even your friend. Not one fact in this piece only name-calling.<p>You could have taken the stand, talking about what said journalist wrote - and why it is wrong. Could have explained the facts. You could even have given your friend the opportunity, to counter what said journalist wrote and tell the facts, as they are from his point of view.<p>But you just took the easy way. Ranting, name-calling, denouncing a journalist (who may have done everything wrong, but I can't know this), without showing prove that anything you say is true.