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"The story in the public that you are all trying to buy back shares should be revised. Not for my sake. If that's what any of you want, ok, but know this. I str

"The story in the public that you are all trying to buy back shares should be revised. Not for my sake. If that's what any of you want, ok, but know this. I strongly urge you not to be considered part of a group of entrepreneurs that would, at the first sign of trouble or opportunity, choose to renege. It is dishonorable. And it is opportunistic grandstanding. It will hurt the perception of your integrity and it will hurt your ability to raise capital down the line. No investor seeks out that risk. It's not an action of integrity. I would urge you to separate yourself from that narrative if it isn't true of your intentions. If it is, I hope you have a very credible reason to do it besides just doing a shakedown, or to stand outside your integrity for the sake of media perception. I also recommend you speak to each reporter who has quoted that erroneous article and have it corrected." Nice, a threat that speaking against them/him will hurt your ability to raise money. This seems only barely removed from the retaliation threats and actions Caldbeck did against the former employee (and others he harassed). Seems like a great guy to work with! Also, 'Not for my sake', lol. Seriously, did one of their lawyers not look this over? They're facing a lawsuit from a former principal alleging extensive retaliation against her throughout the valley, and I suspect this email will wind up being a pretty compelling exhibit in the case. This does certainly cast yet another shadow on all the public remonstrations of fealty and support shown on various social media channels towards him. In the future, you may want to wait a bit and see how things shake out.

strangeloops85 9y ago
Also, holy crap is this terrible: "There are victims out there paying for oppression with their lives. As for the people here that whine that they aren't taken care of, who have not to worry about their lives being taken from them or their basic needs met, who owes them more than the voice they already have access to? To these whiners who want me to constantly address their questions preemptively, I say that we all have priorities." If I'm reading this correctly, he's basically telling the women/URMs of Silicon Valley, "Hey, at least you're not dying of hunger here, stop whining." I'm really not sure telling those who face harassment and significant discrimination on a daily basis here that they are 'whiners' is a good response to this fiasco. But, then again, I don't run a VC with management fees that would presumably give me access to a world-class PR firm.. What is furthermore galling about this email to his founders is the lack of contrition towards them for the difficult position he and Binary have put them in. His actions and the actions of the firm have undoubtedly caused a great deal of distraction, angst, heartache and anger within the portfolio firms, and those founders deserve nothing but an apology from him. Instead, they are berated and threatened! Why on Earth would anyone read this and ever want to work with him as an investor?

strangeloops85 9y ago

Also, holy crap is this terrible: "There are victims out there paying for oppression with their lives. As for the people here that whine that they aren't taken care of, who have not to worry about their lives being taken from them or their basic needs met, who owes them more than the voice they already have access to? To these whiners who want me to constantly address their questions preemptively, I say that we all have priorities." If I'm reading this correctly, he's basically telling the women/URMs of Silicon Valley, "Hey, at least you're not dying of hunger here, stop whining." I'm really not sure telling those who face harassment and significant discrimination on a daily basis here that they are 'whiners' is a good response to this fiasco. But, then again, I don't run a VC with management fees that would presumably give me access to a world-class PR firm.. What is furthermore galling about this email to his founders is the lack of contrition towards them for the difficult position he and Binary have put them in. His actions and the actions of the firm have undoubtedly caused a great deal of distraction, angst, heartache and anger within the portfolio firms, and those founders deserve nothing but an apology from him. Instead, they are berated and threatened! Why on Earth would anyone read this and ever want to work with him as an investor?