This is a quick posting to say that since my trip to San Francisco I have concluded my many years of thinking about the key difference between enterprise technology and consumer technology. Here is the executive summary.

1. Enterprise - you make money.

2. Consumer - you may very possible make some money in the future.

That's it in a nutshell.

So if you're a budding entrepreneur, then my advice is to try and do enterprise. It's 100 times easier and more profitable. Just ask the Skype and Youtube guys.

The equation goes like this;

Enterprise = consumer + money - fun.

Yeah? 

I disagree... enterprise = private, consumer = public :)

yeah, this one was a little less serious then most tips, but the discussion is worthy.  It is true that the value equation is very different when you can either save or make money as a result of doing something. e.g. if I use myspace I can be happier (what is that worth??)  if I use salesforce.com I can make more sales. (I know what that's worth). 

Enterprise = simpler financial value calculation. Consumer = touchy feely value harder to quantify therefore less spending.  

actually you're right.. that's it exactly... enterprise really is about making money

somewhat by definition

It's the difference between b2b and b2c. Different buying behaviours.

Yep, agree on different buying behaviours, but one of the drivers of that is what the end value is. In b2b it's more likely to be financial based so it can be more easily given a financial value. With b2c it's often not financial, more intangible (fun, safety, belonging, cool) so it's harder to value.

I mean what price can you put on cool.

he actually looks pretty corporate nowadays

looks like an oldschool angel investor from the valley

you're right

fonzie 2.0

"We at Fonzy Pottsy Ralph Ventures invest in only 1 type of business. Businesses that are chicks dig."