[rtpg]

"you often need to seem nice and likable to wealthy people" is a very important point.

Part of it is ... sort of generically true in any chosen power structure in the world (easier for powerful people to do things for you if they like you, in theory). But because so much of this dealmaking and the like, and the completely capricious nature of VC funding in particular, means that if you're wanting to fundraise your job ends up being "be friends with the people with money".

And because it's so informal and based on friendships, each generation of money is... well, it's replicating culture from the previous generation. At least in more formal power structures there are exams or something to stop it from _just_ being about hiring people you like talking to.

The silver lining is I bet there's a huge untapped market in helping fund people in environments that don't require you to listen to a VC talk about how BTC is about taking power away from oppressive governments or whatever.

I bet there are loads of people who are interested in funding, in seriousness, and not necessarily looking for more drinking partners.

[peyton]

It’s a filter. Who’s gonna give money to somebody who can’t find their way around Palo Alto? Startups are at least that hard, right?