The founders and business models of Costco, Patagonia and Novo Nordisk are so radically different from so-called "tech startup" founders^1 that one must consider this in any analysis
1. Who lack a legitimate business model hence have resorted to "data collection from/about computer users, surveillance of computer users even when engaged in non-commercial activity and online advertising services" with generally free, so-called "products" and "services" offered as bait
"There's a darkness in our industry that we often don't talk about."
It's "talked" about on HN but voters and commenters working for or aspiring to start/work for these companies don't like the discussion
100% probability this comment will be greyed out to try to hide it from people using graphical web browsers (no effect on monochrome text-only browser users)
The people that start "tech" companies are often soulless and maladapted to society, having hid behind computers to escape their inability to deal with the real world. There are also "tech startups" founded by people who want to take advantage of those who have hidden behind computers and lack social skills, using them as pawns
These founders and pawns do not start, nor do they want to work for, companies like Costco, Patagonia or Novo Nordisk because they only believe in what they see on a computer screen not the real world. They want to operate in Silicon Valley fantasy land
It really isn't surprising what happens to so-called "tech" companies over time considering what they start from
The author worked for Kleiner Perkins, SillyCon Valley VC
After listening to this guy you may feel like you need a shower
"The people that start "tech" companies are often soulless and maladapted to society, having hid behind computers to escape their inability to deal with the real world".
Yes. Of course.
You cannot trust anyone to have a rounded mind unless they have actually done more than one thing, broadly speaking.
Having worked at one of these companies, I don't buy for one second, that these companies are not obsessed with financial benefit. You would be an absolute idiot to believe that.
The founders don't want to work in the regulated environments that Costco and Novo Nordick operate in
The pawns don't want to work in the IT departments of those companies
They all want to be in Silicon Valley fantasy land
They worship obscene Silicon Valley wealth, they are beholden to venture capital firms and they want to build data centers all over the planet and fill Earth orbit with space garbage
The environment is an afterthought, computers and sci-fi fantasy are what is important to them
To each their own. But...
This is the opposite of the guy who founded Patagonia. For him the environment is forethought, he has spent his life outside, not in front of a computer^1
1. Yes, I am aware Patagonia has made some mistakes with maufacturing
1. Who lack a legitimate business model hence have resorted to "data collection from/about computer users, surveillance of computer users even when engaged in non-commercial activity and online advertising services" with generally free, so-called "products" and "services" offered as bait
"There's a darkness in our industry that we often don't talk about."
It's "talked" about on HN but voters and commenters working for or aspiring to start/work for these companies don't like the discussion
100% probability this comment will be greyed out to try to hide it from people using graphical web browsers (no effect on monochrome text-only browser users)
The people that start "tech" companies are often soulless and maladapted to society, having hid behind computers to escape their inability to deal with the real world. There are also "tech startups" founded by people who want to take advantage of those who have hidden behind computers and lack social skills, using them as pawns
These founders and pawns do not start, nor do they want to work for, companies like Costco, Patagonia or Novo Nordisk because they only believe in what they see on a computer screen not the real world. They want to operate in Silicon Valley fantasy land
It really isn't surprising what happens to so-called "tech" companies over time considering what they start from
The author worked for Kleiner Perkins, SillyCon Valley VC
After listening to this guy you may feel like you need a shower