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A few months ago I wrote a certain story here and to my surprise I received a call from Dan Lyons, one of the writers of the show. We had long discussions about

A few months ago I wrote a certain story here and to my surprise I received a call from Dan Lyons, one of the writers of the show. We had long discussions about silicon valley and his new book coming out (I'm featured in it). A few weeks ago he was in LA and we had another long discussion about the show. Silicon Valley is the show most startup founders will refuse to watch. My startup was featured on TechCrunch Disrupt, we were on stage talking about how we will change the world with our product. Then things didn't particularly go as planed. I discovered the show and started watching it shortly after. It was painful to see that they portrayed our exact journey as it happened. Only the show poked fun of the mistakes we were making. I watched it not only as a comedy, but also as a documentary that would predict our fate. It was eye-opening! My favorite part (and most humiliating) was when we pitched our startup to a non-silicon valley investor and she simply replied: "OK, cut the crap. Which website are you scraping?" All my co-founders were offended by the show. I must admit, its painful to watch someone else make fun of the things you put your heart to. But from time to time, someone has to make fun of you or you start to take yourself too seriously. If you are trying to make it in silicon valley, please watch the show. At best, it will help you make your startup more grounded.

autokad 8y ago
That's some really interesting insights from a founder, thanks! I'm a huge fan of the show, but one thing I would like to point out is that I don't think everything of the show is negative. sometimes it makes me wish I was developing (data science here). my favorite moments of the show is when they overcome some huge challenge (spoiler like with 2 days of the condor)
pj_mukh 8y ago
"show most startup founders will refuse to watch" Hah! Anecdotally, I've had the opposite experience watching the show and running a startup in the valley. Most of my co-founder friends have seen it and see it as a sort of catharsis. "We aren't the only ones, this happens to everyone, so much so, there's a show about it" And then there's the inspirational, "Let's have the team coalesce around a deadline and jam out something that's never been done before", episodes. Also very real.
- ibudiallo 8y ago
  We talked a lot about how many founders that somewhat found success, try to be Gavins or Russ Hannemans. But the show doesn't portray these people as the visionaries they think they are. In fact it makes fun of them.
  - rorykoehler 8y ago
    Even the Presidents shit stinks. I'm really wondering how fragile your ego has to be to be offended by watching Silicon Valley. Are these really people who should be trying to "change the world"? Better to work on themselves first.
nkoren 8y ago
Man, you need to get better co-founders! I agree that Silicon Valley often hits painfully close to home, but that's precisely what makes it so fantastic. My own startup has been mostly outside of America, but we get enough brushes with Silicon Valley culture -- or, worse, wannabe Silicon Valley culture -- to make the show really resonate. Even closer to home, for me personally, is the Australian comedy "Utopia" (or "Dreamland", depending on the market). It's about a municipal urban development corporation, which is basically my startup's customer group. One episode features a sendup of what my own startup does (online collaborative infrastructure planning and stakeholder engagement) -- or, more to the point, what some of our would-be customers want it to do. You can tell that the writers know what they're talking about. Damn near killed me to watch it. Highly, highly recommended!
- sytringy05 8y ago
  Utopia is brilliant. The new logo episode is one of the greatest pieces of tv ever made.
- mcbain 8y ago
  Utopia is a documentary, not a comedy. I know people that can’t watch it because it is like being in their office.
- dingle_thunk 8y ago
  Another Aussie here. Try 'very small business' for a laugh.
sjg007 8y ago
I can watch Silicon Valley but I can't make it through Social Network... it's too painful.
- prawn 8y ago
  I find the start of Social Network really inspiring. The great soundtrack (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) from the scene where he is running back to his room and then getting to work will get me productive every time. Running home - "Hand Covers Bruise" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXdFJggkjzM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXdFJggkjzM Starting work - "In Motion" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y2mDjPR7oU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y2mDjPR7oU
bane 8y ago
It does a great job at isolating and grinding on the insufferable pretentiousness of the SV startup scene. The first season resonated the most with my experiences, but I know others who recognize their own experiences in different parts of it.
sAbakumoff 8y ago
The NEW book? What's the title?
- ibudiallo 8y ago
  I meant the latest books that came out last month, Lab Rats.
  - sAbakumoff 8y ago
    Nice! I really enjoyed his book "Disrupted", will check this one too.
TheKarateKid 8y ago
> Silicon Valley is the show most startup founders will refuse to watch. So, so true. I tried to start watching it when I was running my startup but it literally felt like I was watching the same place and people I was spending 9-14 hours/day at the startup accelerator I was in.

autokad 8y ago

That's some really interesting insights from a founder, thanks! I'm a huge fan of the show, but one thing I would like to point out is that I don't think everything of the show is negative. sometimes it makes me wish I was developing (data science here). my favorite moments of the show is when they overcome some huge challenge (spoiler like with 2 days of the condor)

pj_mukh 8y ago

"show most startup founders will refuse to watch" Hah! Anecdotally, I've had the opposite experience watching the show and running a startup in the valley. Most of my co-founder friends have seen it and see it as a sort of catharsis. "We aren't the only ones, this happens to everyone, so much so, there's a show about it" And then there's the inspirational, "Let's have the team coalesce around a deadline and jam out something that's never been done before", episodes. Also very real.

ibudiallo 8y ago
We talked a lot about how many founders that somewhat found success, try to be Gavins or Russ Hannemans. But the show doesn't portray these people as the visionaries they think they are. In fact it makes fun of them.
- rorykoehler 8y ago
  Even the Presidents shit stinks. I'm really wondering how fragile your ego has to be to be offended by watching Silicon Valley. Are these really people who should be trying to "change the world"? Better to work on themselves first.

nkoren 8y ago

Man, you need to get better co-founders! I agree that Silicon Valley often hits painfully close to home, but that's precisely what makes it so fantastic. My own startup has been mostly outside of America, but we get enough brushes with Silicon Valley culture -- or, worse, wannabe Silicon Valley culture -- to make the show really resonate. Even closer to home, for me personally, is the Australian comedy "Utopia" (or "Dreamland", depending on the market). It's about a municipal urban development corporation, which is basically my startup's customer group. One episode features a sendup of what my own startup does (online collaborative infrastructure planning and stakeholder engagement) -- or, more to the point, what some of our would-be customers want it to do. You can tell that the writers know what they're talking about. Damn near killed me to watch it. Highly, highly recommended!

sytringy05 8y ago
Utopia is brilliant. The new logo episode is one of the greatest pieces of tv ever made.
mcbain 8y ago
Utopia is a documentary, not a comedy. I know people that can’t watch it because it is like being in their office.
dingle_thunk 8y ago
Another Aussie here. Try 'very small business' for a laugh.

sjg007 8y ago

I can watch Silicon Valley but I can't make it through Social Network... it's too painful.

prawn 8y ago
I find the start of Social Network really inspiring. The great soundtrack (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) from the scene where he is running back to his room and then getting to work will get me productive every time. Running home - "Hand Covers Bruise" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXdFJggkjzM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXdFJggkjzM Starting work - "In Motion" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y2mDjPR7oU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y2mDjPR7oU

bane 8y ago

It does a great job at isolating and grinding on the insufferable pretentiousness of the SV startup scene. The first season resonated the most with my experiences, but I know others who recognize their own experiences in different parts of it.

sAbakumoff 8y ago

The NEW book? What's the title?

ibudiallo 8y ago
I meant the latest books that came out last month, Lab Rats.
- sAbakumoff 8y ago
  Nice! I really enjoyed his book "Disrupted", will check this one too.

TheKarateKid 8y ago

> Silicon Valley is the show most startup founders will refuse to watch. So, so true. I tried to start watching it when I was running my startup but it literally felt like I was watching the same place and people I was spending 9-14 hours/day at the startup accelerator I was in.