My guess about VCs and big data: My guess is a special case of my guess about VCs and X for any new technology or tech buzz word X, that is, just substitute

My guess about VCs and big data: My guess is a special case of my guess about VCs and X for any new technology or tech buzz word X, that is, just substitute "big data" for X. The guess is a special case of the difference between the sizzle and the steak. Or, remember, sell the sizzle, not the steak. Well, VCs have Web sites and there commonly emphasize the X, the sizzle, they are interested in. In fact, for a VC, X or sizzle with a dime won't cover even a 10 cent cup of coffee. And a VC won't invest even 10 cents in X or sizzle. So, why do VCs emphasize their interest in X they don't care about? Well, VCs want deal flow, that is, entrepreneurs presenting their projects so claim they are interested in current sizzle X. Then entrepreneurs with a project in subject X will eagerly contact the VC. Now what? Sure, the VC ignores the X, the sizzle, and looks for some steak, usually traction significant and growing rapidly, better still, revenue significant and growing rapidly. They also look at the founders, etc. The one thing they do NOT look at, understand, respect, evaluate, or care about is X or the sizzle. None of this effort means anything for a VC unless they can see enough steak to start negotiations with the entrepreneurs. Now we see why the VCs said they were interested in X: During the negotiations, they will pretend to evaluate the business based on X, not on the steak. Then the VCs will denigrate, diss, minimize, insult, run down, criticize X as of not very solid business value and lower their evaluation (pre-money) of the business. And THAT'S where the VCs get their payoff for their claims of interest in X. So, selling/buying the sizzle instead of the steak hides the real value, the steak, and the VCs want to do that. There must be some explanation for the very common practice of VCs saying they are interested in X. IMHO, no way are the VCs interested in X, big data, AI, ML, etc. -- those topics are just sizzle to hide their interest in what they regard as steak. If can, then check out my guess: Say, get a VC to explain any of the value of big data, AI, or ML in a reasonably solid and well informed way! Uh, "X is eating the world" is NOT good enough! There must be an explanation, and my best guess is above! YMMV!!