World Stock Exchange - The Silent Killer

I called it and by golly I called it right. If WSE, was to survive the MDS scandal, it would outlast most in the financial sector. While the hooplah over WSE seems to have diminished and it seeming to be a ghost town, this is not the case. This silent killer is still going....not as strong as before but still going nonetheless. And don't misconstrue what I mean by killer. I mean that in a good way. Having my first SL company listed on WSE got me to thinking and I did a little research and came up with a few differences that sets WSE apart from every other exchange ever created in Second Life. First, let's talk platform, then we will talk managment.

Platform...
1. WSE operates like a RL stock exchange. No bells and whistles with extra promises. No fraud funds and investor whining (don't shoot me). It's just business. Straight forward business.

There is an extreme importance here. Some exchanges have focused so hard on playing the "honest" card (even when it's just a front), they have forgotten about the core business and have suffered for it. True enough, WSE may delist like mad eventually but, bottom line, THIS is how a real stock exchange runs. The NYSE doesn't compensate shareholders. It's an at risk business but most don't understand or want to understand that. Of course the NYSE works with the SEC to validate in an attempt to diminish risk but that is a subject for another blog.

2. Extremely user friendly and pretty web interface with just about everything automated.

I waited for the graphs and YAY I got it. I admit, for me its more aesthetics but for statiticians, it is awesome. The applications are streamlined with a built in portal for financial reporting that automatically calculates for you. SL Account integration is available as well to make reporting that much easier. I would say the communication avenues are a bit substandard but that is secondary stuff. And you can even have your coffee in a WSE branded mug. How cool!

3. Investor base.

First one in. Pretty much, it's like all the other auctions sites going up against eBay. eBay is crud in my opinion but they have the customer base that no one else does. WSE has not only the first large group of investors but the addition of Ginko customers in its base. Granted someone is so jaded by Ginko that they may not actually invest but at least the potential is there.

Okay so lets move along to management....

While there seems to be others, from my view, it's a one man show. LukeConnell Vandeverre. People say what they must and fall out with him, myself included, but I have to respect his position here. Yeah, he can be quite pompous but at the same time, he has every reason to be. He presented a successful business and started a trend that wasn't existant for the most part. Kudos for the introduction of the publicly owned corporate simulation in Second Life. And for obvious reasons it is called a simulation.

The man throws his weight around and keeps the most influential people in his grasps. Smart man. Don't make enemies with the choir when you need them to preach your sermon. And he gets rid of the opposers....not too sure I agree with that one but everyone has a right to their opinion and everyone also has a right not to listen to it. It's his company. Let him run it.

I have my issues and may do a few things differently but at the same time, don't stop something that is obviously working. Is WSE falling behind the scenes and we don't know about it? Quite possibly but I highly doubt it. I think this is solid. At least for the time being. All the BS is gone and WSE runs business as usual. Of course the market volume is low for VARIOUS reasons but we are all suffering from the market crunch. It's survival of the fittest right now and we will see who will be around come December.

Good luck WSE and LukeConnell.....