Just catching up with some of the gossip around the purchase by Blackbaud of Convio (let’s call them ConBeard for ease…if you’re not sure where the ‘beard’ comes from the answer’s in here!).

Found this great response from Allen Gunn, founder of Aspiration. I don’t agree with every word but the majority of it rings true.

Ultimately I see this as a positive thing for the sector as a whole. The world is changing very rapidly and older business models are being wiped out – you only have to look at the likes of Kodak, RIM, Nokia, even Microsoft themselves wondering where to go.

For these two companies I see a similar outlook, especially now they are joined. Convio probably had a better chance on their own but now they have joined forces with all that other technology baggage just when lack of baggage is the ultimate advantage.

While everyone else now can take advantage of all the amazing new things going on in the world these two are going to be totally preoccupied trying to untangle a complete patchwork mess of technologies whilst trying to keep staff, customers, shareholders, bankers, etc etc happy.

Don’t get me wrong, for sure both companies have some good functionality and that’s why they’ve done well. But Blackberry’s have good functionality as well but they’re just not as nimble and flexible as an Android or iPhone. The same holds 100% true. The way I see it you can match and then overtake functionality much, much quicker than you can change platform or move an entire company with all its legacies, let alone two companies.

When you’re falling into a hole, you try and grab onto the biggest thing you can find. The execs at Blackbaud looked ahead, seeing they’ve spent $50+ million on the wrong technology platform and didn’t know what else to do. I wish them all well over the next few years of integrating teams of people (including lots and lots and lots of hungry sales people) who traditionally were sworn enemies.

Meanwhile everyone else will just plough a merry path with no obstacles or barriers.

PS – any partners out there nervous of the ConBeard future looking for an open, affordable, scalable, user-friendly alternative designed for the sector just let us know, we come baggage-free and designed for the current and future world, not one that’s passing by

Edit: Some interesting comments from worried customers and former staff here.

And here…and here

And if you want the ‘real’ story from the front line check out https://twitter.com/#!/conbaud