Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman, 2 business college student and good friend started their dream together in May 1999 to create a web based company call GovWorks.com. The company was designed to target $600 billion market space in providing online access to help people deal with governments. In less than one year, govWorks going from one room office with few staffs to over 200 employee and over $50 million company value. In April 2000, the competitor EzGov launched its website ahead based on the same business model. By end of the year 2000, company had nearly layoff all its employee. Finally, in January 2001, govWorks was sold to First Data and the dot com bubble for govWorks has burst and came to its end.
This documentary was not so much about business development and strategy, neither includes any technical development process as I was hoping to see and find out how Dot Com Boom impact small start up technology companies, and how business survive or what caused its failure. However, looking at two main characters' story, I can certainly feel the enthusiast and craziness of technology entrepreneurs at that time. It was almost can be called 19th century gold rush, and the Dot Com boom was that gold Mine. Many people like Tom and Kaleil, spent all they have to pursue their dream and do whatever it takes to find that gold. Unfortunately, this gold rush didn't last long enough, and before you know it, the Dot Com bobble burst.
Aside of govWorks.com, looking at Kaleil and Tom's story makes me wondering if partnering with friend for business is a good idea. Every time when there is money involved, it's always end up business only. Look at their third partner Keith, he basically didn't do anything for company and end up good return from the company. He said it loud and clear, its all about money. Kaleil and Tome had express their friendship and love to each other almost through out entire movie until the end when the company went side way. Their story brings out my memory about the business experience of my grand father, my father and my uncle. Each of them had their own business and all of them involved with their friends. Not surprising, non of those "friends" are still maintaining contact before or after their business partnership. If you really serious about your friendship, don't go in to a business with them
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