[bogomipz]

>"I imagine that getting better food options to millions of people and enabling tens of thousands to start businesses does impact the poorer half of mankind positively."

Better food options? Is there a better food option than something locally grown with sustainable agriculture?

How exactly does VC-funded motorcycle and car taxis burning fossil fuels "impact poorer half of mankind positively"?

>"We've seen for decades that the typical Western approach of throwing money at the elites of a poor country really doesn't help improve life for the impoverished;"

Which has given rise to alternatives in the form of NGOs, PVOs and micro-finance initiatives. Do you really believe that some VC firms on Sand Hill Road is going to help lift the world out of poverty?