>Oracle's competitors have all indicated that Oracle is nowhere to be seen in B2B competition. The departure of Ray Lane has completely squashed their position in the market.<
we hate it when our friends become successful!
NotsureifyouwereweanedoncollegealtrockBB
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November 2, 2000
Digits: Gambits & Gadgets In the World of Technology
Aw, Are These for Me?
WSJ
Ray Lane, the newest partner at venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, apparently has a lot of fans beyond those at his former employer Oracle.
Mr. Lane resigned from Oracle in June after a falling out with Chief Executive Larry Ellison. When he joined Kleiner Perkins in August, teams at Oracle rivals Siebel Systems and Microsoft sent Mr. Lane flowers along with notes thanking him for leaving the database-software maker. Microsoft was the most explicit in its well wishes: "Congratulations on making the move," wrote Microsoft's SQL server team. "We're happy to see you go."
Mr. Lane, who was in the office when the wildflowers from Microsoft arrived, remembers opening the card. "It was hilarious to get it from a competitor," he said. The card "was very specific. It blew me away." Other former competitors, including i2 Technologies, tried to curry favor with the new venture capitalist by sending gifts. The flowers, bottles of wine, and other presents arrived at Mr. Lane's new Sand Hill Road office for weeks after he joined Kleiner Perkins.
Mr. Lane, who has been credited with helping build the Redwood Shores, Calif., company into a software powerhouse with more than $10 billion in revenue, received no flowers from Oracle, but said he received several calls and messages of congratulations from his many friends there.
"It's kind of weird for a guy to get flowers," says Mr. Lane, who favors orchids. "I liked them so much I've had flowers brought in every week." |
