My close friend Andrea Cavalluzzo works for IdeaLab.
Andrea B. Cavalluzzo
When I first created the program add-on "Online Creation" in 1993, I wanted to attract a good writer for my own game "The Isles MUD" which had the new add-on installed with some custom features -- I was 15 at the time. Andrea Cavalluzzo (character name: "Kallista") was a little older, and a great writer. She and I talked for years and years. We stopped talking in 2002. She worked for IdeaLab. I felt like I knew someone "in the neighborhood" over in California. We talked a lot, and I studied her company.
Andrea left IdeaLab in 1997 and joined one of their affiliate start-ups WeddingChannel.
Today, Idealab's website offers this as their submission policy:
"Idealab is primarily focused on developing and operating technology companies based on its own internally-generated ideas. Idealab does not invite the submission of business plans, ideas, concepts, inventions or any other material ("Material"). Please do not disclose to Idealab, its employees, representatives or agents any Material that you believe is confidential or proprietary, or for which you expect to receive consideration or compensation in any form. By submitting Material to Idealab, you acknowledge that such Material is neither confidential nor proprietary, and you waive the right to receive compensation of any kind for the Material."
PayPal became one of Idealab's investments sometime around April, 1999. It was like I was on the inside of that, or at least that's the way it felt. I was only 21 at the time.
From the LA Times:
SOUTHLAND FOCUS; Idealab Partners to Invest in PayPal.com [Home Edition] Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, Calif. Author: Debora Vrana Date: Jan 20, 2000 Start Page: 2 Section: Business; PART- C; Financial Desk Text Word Count: 122
My friend George Economou helps a small start-up called Akamai
My high school and grade school friend, George Economou, Jr. We stopped talking after he got his Compartmentalized Top Secret clearance. His father worked at Los Alamos building the first atomic bomb. In 1999, Akamai's stock was worth over $300. George worked on their video content distribution network.
His influence got me thinking about video and content on the internet. By 2003, he was worth several million. I asked him for $10,000 to start YouTube, but at the time his father was gravely ill and I was dealing with some issues of my own. George and I haven't talked much after this: he seems to think we met in high school, but we really met in 4th grade. When questioned briefly by my attorneys, he admitted to knowing me, but could not recall anything about any details from 2002/2003. Of course, Akamai is partnered with Google and has agreements with YouTube. They provided the bandwidth for the YouTube Live! events.
from Mad Merv <madmerv@gmail.com>
to date subject mailed-by signed-by
From: George Economou <economou@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Sep 26, 2004 at 4:38 PM
Subject: Re: you loser
To: Mad Merv <madmerv@gmail.com>we're all losers, but thanks for reminding me.
I thought you didn't want the gmail account?
it's slow as shit btw.
I just got an email back from some stripper, sweet huh.On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:14:58 -0400, Mad Merv <madmerv@gmail.com> wrote:
> ok fine
>
Left to right: Chris Tchou (Bungie, Halo series graphics programmer), George Economou (early Akamai employee) and myself. I do have an earlier picture of George, but it's in a family album somewhere and not immediately available.