Etsy's Founder, Written Out of History, Is Not Alone

Here are six other founders who got left in the dust when their companies went public

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By Sarah Frier

March 6, 2015 at 4:03 PM UTC

Updated on

March 7, 2015 at 5:15 AM UTC

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Etsy filed for an initial public offering this week, and the document is full of heartwarming tales about the online craft marketplace's community and authenticity. It takes prospective investors on a journey from the company's humble, hipster beginnings in Brooklyn a decade ago to a global network of more than a million sellers today.

One thing lacking from Etsy's corporate history is Robert Kalin, the guy who started it. Kalin came up with the idea for Etsy, raised its first batches of venture capital, and was its chief executive officer during its formative years. Then he was unceremoniously pushed out in 2011 amid concerns about whether he could continue to grow the business.