Then we must agree to disagree. For analogies sake, let's talk about Google. Google hires the best geeks, provides free food, doesn't hire PHBs, have a large i

Then we must agree to disagree. For analogies sake, let's talk about Google. Google hires the best geeks, provides free food, doesn't hire PHBs, have a large impact on the world in some ways etc etc. Its hiring best geeks works as a magnet pulling other geeks. Not hiring PHBs means programmers are comfortable working here. Work being done at Google having a large impact gives people a sense of accomplishment and validation. Working with like-minded people lowers the stress level compared to working with idiots who accidentally became programmers and who have no respect for the trade. In comparison, a bodyshop doesn't do any of it and still does fine financially(I know; I worked for one). Both Google and bodyshop have the same motives with different paths. It's all fine but that doesn't mean Google can claim "We don't want money. We do it for the programmers. See how much we do for them. Checkout the bodyshop which doesn't do anything for the employees and makes a ton of money. Since we do a lot more compared to the bodyshop, it proves we aren't after money and we are working towards higher calling." Ron Conway is doing just that. Substitute Google with Ron Conway and bodyshop with traditional VCs above. By claiming he isn't there for money but is just helping people, he is being a hypocrite. Compared to traditional VCs, he might be working more towards the welfare of founders but that doesn't change the fact that it's business and he too is working towards ROI. There is no higher calling; it's just simple, plain business.