[dmartinez]

The sentiment here is a response to a minority opinion that has deeper pockets than the majority opinion.

It is interesting because VC math forces a level of intensity that Basecamp doesn’t have to contend with. So in one sense, the message can be interpreted as “don’t take VC funding”.

The more obvious interpretation is that, regardless of financing, work should never dominate your life. But this is can be argued against, since some forms of financing like venture take away your control of work intensity.

The act of ceding voting power in your company is a step closer towards the work style that Jason and DHH are protesting.

[alexandercrohde]

Exactly. VCs' self-interest will always be to extract maximum work out of engineers, hoping to make themselves from 100-millionaires into billionaires.

If you're going to work at such a place then acknowledge you may be getting paid to put up with tantrums of the ultra-rich when their money likely goes away (as most startups fail). Don't internalize it.

[fsloth]

"VCs' self-interest will always be to extract maximum work out of engineers,"

And engineers are completely in their right to disagree to insane working hours. What's the additional leverage VC:s hold?

I've never understood this propensity to claim that it's impossible to avoid insane working hours. Sure it is. Just don't do it.

[fsloth]

"some forms of financing like venture take away your control of work intensity."

How is that? I find it unlikely any VC would go to court just because founder insists on sane working hours for employees. Or is there some leverage here I'm completely missing?

[dmartinez]

I don’t have hard evidence, and certainly not every VC would act this way. There is a great episode of Startup where they seek additional funding and eventually settle on an investor with a long time horizon. YC itself is known for having a longer horizon than most.

But for VCs with an aggressive stance towards working longer, there are many subtle ways to stop supporting a founder that goes against their working culture assumptions.

Increased combatitiveness in board meetings, reduced support in tapping their network for key hires, and increased attention paid toward advising competitors in their portfolio are a few that come to mind.

[bakli]

VC will not participate in the next round, or vote favourably with founders in next board meeting, or spread false news about work ethics or some other crap, which can lead to a down round. Have seen all the three happen.