VC-Backed Startups are Low Status - by Michael Dempsey
Before Tech became the dominant industry, jobs like investment banking were generally viewed as the best expected-value career trade to make out of school in terms of money, training, and accrued social capital.
Before Tech became the dominant industry, jobs like investment banking were generally viewed as the best expected-value career trade to make out of school in terms of money, training, and accrued social capital. As tech began to rise in the 2000s-early 2010s, backed by cultural tenants of weirdness (what the smartest people do on weekends), meritocracy, and change for good, doing investment banking within many younger circles went from high status to a specific type of low status which is “this shows you’re smart but not that interesting.” It was clearly high EV but lacked a form of soul.…
saved by
related reading
- Startups as status | Texturesrileywilson.co
- “Build What’s Fundable” - by Kyle Harrison - Investing 101investing101.substack.com
- The Vin Diagramvinayiyengar.com
- Dreams of Stabilityworkingtheorys.com
- Underrated predictor of success: willingness to be low-statusnews.ycombinator.com
- Why to Not Not Start a Startuppaulgraham.com
- Reconsidering Career Optionality - Erik Torenbergeriktorenberg.substack.com
- Heat Death: Venture Capital in the 1980s | Reaction Wheelreactionwheel.net
- Letter | Terrainterrain.com
- .:: Phrack Magazine ::.phrack.org
- Low Status, High Status - Marvy101marvy101.posthaven.com
- Hiring is Obsoletepaulgraham.com