When we talked in June, your biggest worry was handling the growth of the site.
It still is. We’ve made immense progress in our infrastructure, but our user growth–4 million people in 10 months–has consumed that. We raised a significant amount of capital [$13 million]. Google has 1,600 employees; we went from 16 to 22.
How’s the site make money?
We will not be charging to contact others. Eventually we will have services with a fee.
Your site’s a great way to harness word of mouth, no?
People use Friendster like real life–not like weird Internet stuff. You say, “I’m going out for drinks tomorrow,” and then click a button to invite your friends.
What’s with all the users claiming “open marriages”?
Some users have large friend lists or funny photos or list their status facetiously, but most users are honest in profiles.
Two of my female friends found out they were dating the same guy they had met through Friendster.
People say, “I don’t know if Friendster is going to work because what you do gets back to friends.” That is the whole point: you act completely weird, it will get back to somebody you know.
Met anyone on Friendster?
I myself am still single.
