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Six Apart 'acquired' Pownce [1]. Shut it down, then a year later and the 2 founders have left [2].

I'm always slightly skeptical ;) but these things just seem like a way to avoid having your baby in the dead pool to me.

[1] http://www.sixapart.com/blog/2008/12/welcome-pownce-team.htm... [2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02...

The fact they both left shortly after a year would perhaps point to something a bit more substantial than a signing bonus. More like a retention bonus tied to the acquisition. That's what I thought when I read about LC's departure the other day anyway.

Just to let the guy save face? If his stature as a developer warranted it, then it might be to both parties advantage. Signing bonus is not press worthy, acquisition is.

What do you mean "faked"? They're acquiring the company. That doesn't obligate them to continue the existing product, nor mean that that's why they found the company valuable. Even if they discontinue the existing product, the people who have a deep understanding of that space are valuable, and the ideas/concepts behind the product are valuable.