Monzo / Starling founders discussion

[HoldenCarver (Nick)]

Oof, I felt that

No erasure intended, I was dramatically simplifying the narrative, and following the rest of the discussion so far in keeping to the public faces.

Also, there was someone earlier who did describe this as a “Tom vs Anne” thread

[Peter_G]

@HoldenCarver

Oof, I felt that

Not aimed at you (or anyone)! I’m very sorry if that landed poorly.

I just worry about the cult of the founder - it’s not really healthy (for either/any company) in my opinion.

[DaveJ (Dave)]

Ah good post, I get to use the mute button, just a shame you can’t hide posts from view to stop them popping up. Or if you can I’ve not figured that one out yet

[Ralph76 (Ralph)]

@SajSabir

Look at the facts, at Go Cardless he got bored and left. Sterling Bank, he fell out with the team and left. Now Monzo, he got bored and was way out of his depth and left.

Not sure about Starling Bank but when leaving Go Cardless and Monzo he made good money.

No disrespect @Peter_G , but I really don’t know why you’d create this thread. It was only ever going to encourage completely unfounded personal swipes at both of them.

[Ralph76 (Ralph)]

@N26throwaway

Thus far, I think this thread has been lighthearted and respectful towards the individuals being discussed. And as long as it remains impersonal, I don’t see why such a discussion shouldn’t take place.

Respectfully disagree.

The vast majority of people on this forum have never met Tom or Anne, and hence have no place passing judgment on their character or career choices.

If you want a thread set up to talk about the varying strategies of Monzo and Starling and how that’s all played out so far, then fair enough. But this thread should never have been centred on the founders.

[Revels]

@SajSabir

Look at the facts, at Go Cardless he got bored and left. Sterling Bank, he fell out with the team and left. Now Monzo, he got bored and was way out of his depth and left.

“Look at the facts” and then you type zero facts just your opinion/rumour/rubbish.

This topic is a car crash and should have been deleted, not encouraged!

[Rat_au_van (Em)]

Im still trying to figure out that but you quoted

Apparently if you don’t keep one job from the time you leave school to retirement then you are damaging your reputation

[Demmedelusive (Graham)]

@SajSabir

If you look at Tom’s track record he’s been involved in some great startups but he’s the type that starts something great but then gives up and ends up falling out with the team… he just doesn’t have it in him to see things through.

This whole thread is fuelled by conjecture, but I’m driven to suggest a different take on your judgement of Tom Blomfield (I’ve never met him, by the way).

Without him, there’s no doubt in my mind Monzo wouldn’t have happened when it did. For it to get off the ground, it needed new thinking, clear expression and inspiration. He brought that (I don’t hold with the deifying of him, but hey, that’s what inspiration does, sometimes).

I suspect his journey with Monzo was always going to end the way it did. Whether it should have been better managed and the development of the company’s product better preserved - who knows?

Few good starters are good finishers. That’s how it works.

[SajSabir (Saj)]

Exactly my point he starts great things but never sees them to the end.

[Peter_G]

And let’s leave it there. Thanks for the input, folks.