{"id":8149,"date":"2025-08-26T16:33:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T16:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/26\/from-bankruptcy-to-rs-209-cr-a-startup-founder-couples-comeback-after-losing-everything-business-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T16:33:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T16:33:58","slug":"from-bankruptcy-to-rs-209-cr-a-startup-founder-couples-comeback-after-losing-everything-business-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/26\/from-bankruptcy-to-rs-209-cr-a-startup-founder-couples-comeback-after-losing-everything-business-news\/","title":{"rendered":"From Bankruptcy To Rs 209 Cr: A Startup Founder Couple\u2019s Comeback After Losing Everything | Business News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9529761\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-3cea4b2331e41d4a\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-3cea4b2331e41d4a\">August 26, 2025, 18:06 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9529761\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3944633426 asubttl-schema\">Mike and Kass Lazerow lost Golf.com to bankruptcy in 2000, bought it back, revived it, and sold it to Time Inc. for 24 million dollars, inspiring netizens with their resilience.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c flwonstk\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news18.co\/gnps-en-btn\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin:0 12px 0 0\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/gogole-serarch-btn.svg\" alt=\"Click to add News18 as a preferred source on Google\" title=\"Click to add News18 as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"94px\" height=\"30px\" style=\"vertical-align:top\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3944633426 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"News18\" title=\"News18\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3944633426\"\/><\/p>\n<p>News18<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">There\u2019s an old saying, \u201cnever give up,&#8221; because situations and circumstances eventually change. Many understand this wisdom, but only a few have the courage to keep trying until things turn around.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">One such story where a couple whose startup went bankrupt in 2000 but later sold for $24 million (Rs 209 crore), is making headlines after 20 years and attracting the attention of netizens.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">New York-based Mike and Lazerow\u2019s golf-score tracking startup Golf.com is a saga of wisdom and lesson, with many interesting twists and turns.<\/p>\n<h3>What Had Happened?<\/h3>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">Mike and Kass Lazerow began 2000 on a high note, selling their startup Golf.com just after their honeymoon. But within months, the deal unraveled. The buyer, Chipshot \u2014 once backed by Sequoia and Oracle funds \u2014 collapsed into bankruptcy, leaving the Lazerows with almost nothing. \u201cWe had put our whole savings, a combined $25,000, in,&#8221; recalls Kass. \u201cI was angry.&#8221; Nearly all of the $250,000-plus-stock deal vanished, their employees went unpaid, and even family and friends who had invested lost their money.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">Refusing to give up, the couple pulled together a new investment group within three months and bought Golf.com back for a \u201cbargain-basement price.&#8221; The revival wasn\u2019t easy \u2014 Kass admits the site was \u201cmostly dead and partly alive,&#8221; run by just four people at one stage. But momentum shifted as Tiger Woods\u2019 dominance drew advertisers to golf, and Golf.com emerged as a prime digital platform. Time Inc. acquired the site in 2006 for $24 million, giving the founders $1.8 million each.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">Looking back, Kass is blunt: \u201cI think we were just stupid, to tell you the truth. We didn\u2019t know any better, and we were OK with suffering.&#8221; That grit became their trademark \u2014 the Lazerows later sold Buddy Media for $745 million. \u201cThe best founders learn to love the misery, the suffering,&#8221; Mike says.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"authorimg\" src=\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/business-desk-19052.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Business Desk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3944633426 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/business\/\">business<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> From Bankruptcy To Rs 209 Cr: A Startup Founder Couple\u2019s Comeback After Losing Everything<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3944633426 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/business\/from-bankruptcy-to-rs-209-cr-a-startup-founder-couples-comeback-after-losing-everything-ws-el-9529761.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:August 26, 2025, 18:06 IST Mike and Kass Lazerow lost Golf.com to bankruptcy in 2000, bought it back, revived it, and sold it to Time Inc. for 24 million dollars, inspiring netizens with their resilience. News18 There\u2019s an old saying, \u201cnever give up,&#8221; because situations and circumstances eventually change. Many understand this wisdom, but&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}