[adam-_-]

> Because you often need REALLY skilled developers (top 1%) to make the early tech for what you need to build when you're doing a successful startup.

Rubbish. You need an idea and to start validating it, learning and iterating, with feedback from your customers.

[Hydraulix989]

You also need that, and I was addressing the point that someone can’t build a unicorn tech company with a bargain basement remote development team. Look at the MVPs for Google, Dropbox, Apple, even Facebook and ask yourself whether you could replace the founding team of rockstar engineers with some contractors from Timbuktu who do not share the same passion, qualifications, or in-person presence.

It's surprising how poorly the Eric Ries mentality applies in practice to the top success stories of the Valley. How many pre-validated customers wanted the Apple I (a hodgepodge circuit board)? Who would've told you they needed to use something like Facebook? Who needs an "operating system" for a niche "personal" computer? Starting a top tech company by definition can't be formulaic. It's more about the vision -- and only people with better "eyesight" can see and realize the future.