[mskvsk]

Yes, Airbnb founders are privileged, but the mob attacking Paul is missing the message. If you are underprivileged, well... tough luck, you're not gonna build a unicorn. However, you can build a $1000, $10000, or $100k startup.

Also, people there are conflating the terms "rich" and "privileged." You can have everything Airbnb's founders have and still be poor.

Paul should be more careful with wording, though.

[theoh]

I don't think the message that it's just "tough luck" if you happen not to be born into privilege would fare any better. Graham just doesn't have a nuanced, progressive and sensitive understanding of this issue (among many other issues). He's shooting from the hip, but it wouldn't be any better if he aimed carefully.

[mskvsk]

He might not have a nuanced understanding of this issue (although, we can't be sure, can we?), but it doesn't make his tweet inaccurate. He literally was talking about "starting startups" and "rich kids". You can be poor and still start a successful startup.

[goto11]

I would have thought it is the other way around. You don't need a privileged background to turn a $100k into a unicorn. This is a question of different factors. But a privileged background will make it a lot more likely you can get to to a $100k startup in the first place. Because you can take more risks, fail more, bootstrap longer, rely on friends and family etc.

Almost every successful entrepreneur have multiple failed startups in the baggage. But you are already privileged if you are able to fail multiple times and still bounce back.

[mskvsk]

Yes, privileged background is an amplifier and higher starting point. But you don't need any money to make a startup today. Generally, you need a computer with internet access. Although, even a computer is optional as I know some founders who started with just a smartphone (they were building Instagram accounts).

Having said that, there are some people on this planet who are truly underprivileged and can't afford not even a device with internet connection but the very idea that startups could be built by individuals. That's scary.

[goto11]

I don't think the cost of a computer is a big deal these days. The question is the cost of the time investment to bring a startup off the ground. If you live paycheck to paycheck and have to pay rent etc. this can be difficult.

[zimpenfish]

> But you don't need any money to make a startup today. Generally, you need a computer with internet access.

And free time.

[mskvsk]

Among many other mandatory things, yes. But money is not one of them.

[goto11]

Everybody need to eat and pay rent, so yes, you do need money.

[mskvsk]

Let me rephrase it, you don't need capital.

Otherwise, yes, money is crucial to building a startup. As well as the oxygen you will be breathing while building it.