[indescions_2018]

Excellent Sunday morning long read!

Some of PreData's recent "insights":

"China Trade War Fears Still Running High"

"Mall Blaze Sparks Outrage Across Russia"

In short, nothing that couldn't be revealed from the briefest skim of headlines from tomorrow morning's WSJ.com. One can stay better informed leaving a Bloomberg TicToc (which is partially machine generated) tab open all day.

My takeaway is that the world of the Jim Shinns is rapidly approaching extinction. Deals done poolside at country club dinner dances. Name game shmoozing. And serendipitous encounters on private islands. What was considered the predominant pathway to immortality in Fitzgerald's day.

Viable alternatives exist now. And any business model solely differentiated by prestige will be subsumed by free or near-free competition.

[hodgesrm]

I enjoyed the article as well (see my comments above). But I would debate your takeaway. The money quote is in the last sentence:

> Three months later, Predata secured a second round of venture capital funding.

People like Jim Shinn will always find a way. At least that's the argument the author seems to be making.

[untangle]

The Jim Shinns of the world are often LPs in VCs like Edison Partners. And/or they have led a major exit for the VC. Either of these situations gives them ample leverage for a "vanity" Series A/B. Even without the pool or country club.