In recent years, the tech sector has seen its fair share of upheaval, with companies rapidly expanding and then taking massive steps backwards, laying off a wave of tech talent. But could this wave of tech talent be the spark for the next great mafia?
Once upon a time, the idea of a group of high-powered tech workers banding together to launch a new venture or start a company was unheard of. But in recent years, there have been a growing number of stories of tech workers who have been laid off and then joined forces to launch a tech company. These tech workers have been described as a “mafia” – a close-knit group of employees who have the technical skills, business savvy and the contacts needed to make something happen.
Take the case of MongoDB, a database software company that was founded in 2009 by three former engineers from DoubleClick. After being laid off, they joined forces and launched MongoDB, which is now one of the leading NoSQL databases in the world.
Similarly, the former engineers from Skype founded Nimbuzz in 2009. The company provides mobile communications and VoIP services. This is just one example of a large group of laid-off tech workers coming together with their skills, contacts, networks and experience to build a successful tech company.
What makes the “tech mafia” different from other start-ups? For one, the “tech mafia” have a shared experience in terms of developing technology and understanding the tech industry. They have already gone through the experiences, challenges, and successes in the tech sector, and because of this, they understand each other better than other start-up teams, which can give them an edge.
Another advantage of the “tech mafia” is that they are more likely to be able to get funding than other start-ups. The experienced team that they bring to the table means that they have the contacts and industry knowledge needed to secure the investment capital they need to launch their venture.
The phenomenon of the “tech mafia” is still new, and some may argue that it is not an ideal way to launch a business. However, the stories of successful tech companies that were born out of an unexpected wave of tech talent should not be ignored. The “tech mafia” could be the spark that ignites the next great tech revolution.
