Hell Yes!
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The way they dress. The way they talk. As if they have no effin’ clue that they are condescending when they speak, when you meet all these so-called “founders” who have their heads so far up their ass, celebrating their “valuations” and how much “funding” they have received without actually doing the business, making it run on its own and for the vision the business aims to accomplish, aiming for long-term business sustainability—not true entrepreneurs, just in it for bragging rights. Sadly a lot of the Valley has these parasites.
I interviewed with some, partnered up with a few, talked to a lot in the Valley and it just really sickened me that I found a lot, and I mean a lot bragged about their valuation and funding and had their heads in the clouds, sounding condescending more so than telling the story of their business.
Im sorry, but are you done building your business now that you just recieved $25m in funding? Is it done? Thats it?
No! Its just the beginning!
Cant tell you how many convos Ive had that went like this:
Founder: “I founded XYZ, 9 months ago and currently valued at $15m now, additional $25m in funding on the way from an upcoming Series B.”
Me: “Thats fuckin cool, but whats your business again? Why did you begin your business? Not exactly sure what you do man—you haven’t really explained it”
That is what they start with when “talking” about their business! I sometimes wonder if I was the one who was missing something.
Then I receive a sketchy, vague response about them just capturing 1% of a “Billion” Dollar Industry—pisses me off especially.
How some “businesses” get funded, honestly, is beyond me. Beyond!
Priorities are so misplaced.
SV is innovation, they gave us a lot, but the quick hit to get rich ‘hope’ has just gone too far.
Finding entrepreneurs who are humble are hard to come by and having a more humble vision for what they want to build for the future, that is what I wanted to hear. Barely found any sincerity.
You barely hear that. Just in it for bragging rights and some lame “exit strategy”.
I am in business. I get it. Everyone is in business to make money, duh SHERLOCK—, but its gone too far. They are not in the “entrepreneurship” game for the right reasons, causing a lot of wasted resources.
Vision first, Money follows organically.
I want to hear the Vision & the Mission. Those are the types that I want work with/for & partner up with. A lot of people I feel are missing that in the post-Zuck/Facebook world—and maybe thats the problem.
So yes, the Valley has an arrogance problem and it gave me a bad taste when testing its waters for a few years. Maybe its the pressure from outside investors, VCs, etc. who knows, but I do not feel the need to be up there anymore. Not sustainable.
A lot of my friends have built successful enterprises in their home cities around the Midwest, Texas, So-Cal, SouthEast, etc. after leaving the Valley coincidentally, where they could actually innovate instead of being bothered by the extra-curricular crap.