[PopeOfNope]

In the startup world, "Passion" is a shibboleth, or a way of speaking that signals yourself as part of the in crowd. Or, in full startup vernacular, people who are "passionate" about programming are a good "culture fit."

I'm not saying people aren't passionate about programming, but in the context of the startup world, the literal meanings of the words don't matter. The subtext is what's being listened for.