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A comment on What is ZIRP, and how did it impact the startup world?. Parent comment

Re:What is ZIRP, and how did it impact the startup world? by skybrian on Friday June 21, 2024 @01:43AM (#40746537)
No, shorting is different; it's borrowing something you might not be able to pay back.

WeWork was signing leases - borrowing real estate. They went bankrupt from not being able to pay for it. This isn't the same as selling shares to VC's. Equity isn't debt.

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Re:What is ZIRP, and how did it impact the startup world? by lokar on Friday June 21, 2024 @11:40AM (#40750709)
Yes, his point in the newsletter is that if you want to short something you can’t borrow, then you should (cynically) make more of it.
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Re:What is ZIRP, and how did it impact the startup world? by skybrian on Friday June 21, 2024 @12:57PM (#40751449)
Okay, I remember that. But I think this could more simply be seen as becoming a supplier, responding to temporary demand. This could be done well or fraudulently.
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Re:What is ZIRP, and how did it impact the startup world? by lokar on Saturday June 22, 2024 @01:02AM (#40756410)
Somewhere between honest supplier and fraud is the land of wework…
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