Actually, it is a vetting methodology. You get recommended by someone that has worked with you, or that trusts someone that has worked with you, or who has see

Actually, it is a vetting methodology. You get recommended by someone that has worked with you, or that trusts someone that has worked with you, or who has seen fit to invest in your company. Its a chain of reputation. As to networking being the do-all, I think you'll find that most startups are a product of networking: its how teams form, its how they get funded, its how they grow. In fact: the network IS the wealth of an ecosystem. I'm not talking idle chit chat over martinis, I'm talking shipping and selling products. I'm not saying the system is perfect. I'm just saying it isn't irrational, it works the way it does for a reason, and it isn't very hard to participate if you're determined.