The Inside Yelp
Remember the fuss over BusinessWeek's cover story, "Valley Boys," a few weeks back? I know, we forgot about it too. But a few alert readers pointed out that feature writer Sarah Lacy has a little undisclosed connection to the story.
Lacy tapped the founders of Yelp for BusinessWeek's gallery of Valley boys. Are they really changing the world, making millions, nabbing the hot babes? Sure, as much as anyone else in the feature, and as much as dozens of other Valley boys who didn't make it into this hall of fame. But the Yelp boys have an in with Lacy.
Above is a shot of Lacy with Yelp co-founder Jeremy Stoppelman at San Francisco's "Bay to Breakers" charity race. Both are sporting "Co-ed Naked Yelping" tees, and boy do they look happy and close. (Granted, they were probably guzzling beer from a keg just like everyone else at Bay to Breakers, so factor that in.)
Sure, it's a bit sketchy to cover your friends for BusinessWeek. But don't be too hard on Lacy. She wrote a puff piece about Yelp and all she got was this lousy t-shirt.
Photo: Yelp Bay to Breakers [DJYelp on Flickr]
Graphic: Russel Simmons and Jeremy Stoppelman [BusinessWeek]