What you've described as "clout" sounds exactly the same as an old boys club. If account privileges follow a social graph, it's exclusionary to those on the margins by design.
Perhaps my word choice was off. The difference I see is that the original comment invites did not go to one common group.
For instance the person I got mine from is a mid-career technical founder in the midwest who's hard working but not rich or well known. Personally I am not yet a successful founder and have minimal connections in the Bay Area. I attributed getting it to being at the right place at the right time.
For instance the person I got mine from is a mid-career technical founder in the midwest who's hard working but not rich or well known. Personally I am not yet a successful founder and have minimal connections in the Bay Area. I attributed getting it to being at the right place at the right time.