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goobster  ·  461 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: This firm is working to control the climate. Should the world let it?

I've worked extensively in VC, but back in the late 90's and 2000's, when there were a few people with specific interests and lots of money, who helped clever people develop ideas in certain areas.

Venture Capital firms were focused on certain issues, and didn't fund just any ole project that came across the transom with a hockey stick projected adoption curve. They'd say, "Great idea, but not my area of investment interest. Go talk to XYZ. They are interested in that area."

But a couple of big visible successes brought every swinging dick into the VC market, and then shit got dicey. VCs stopped asking pointy questions because there was a feeding frenzy and they had to move fast if they wanted to get in on the profitable financing rounds.

I was in meetings where the VCs in the room didn't really like the idea, but they liked the person presenting the idea so they invested to get in on their good side, and get first crack at their NEXT idea. Seriously. "Sure, we'll give you $5m for this initial round of financing on that pet app, but let us know what else you are working on - even at the conceptual stages - because we think you have a bright future ahead of you."

AND, it created a shitty feedback loop. Goober develops an app, sells it for $150m, and it tanks, but Goober now has $150m that HE is going to invest.... despite not ever developing a working/quality product, or understanding anything about how to grow a company.

Y Combinator now has a dozen of these dipshits on their investment staff, and I guarantee every other tech investment house has the same types of people on their staff.

There is so much money available out there today, it is ridiculous. But there are very few companies I'd accept an investment from, specifically for this reason.