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This dynamic is rampant in the New York tech scene where the wannabes far outnumber the real hackers. It doesn't bother me, though, because the truth is, it do
by waxman 16y ago
This dynamic is rampant in the New York tech scene where the wannabes far outnumber the real hackers.
It doesn't bother me, though, because the truth is, it doesn't matter how many times you've met Fred Wilson, or how many times your name shows up in SAI. If you build something that people love, then the VC's and journalists line up around the block. And if you don't? I don't think Union Square has ever written a check because they saw a guy at all the right parties.
Chris Dixon draws the distinction between "builders" and "extractors," (1) which I really like. Are you building something? Or are you trying to take something?
And I do think that coders are in a different category, because even if you're a "scene-y" dev, at least you could build something of value, whereas most of the scenesters (who completely lack code/design/even business backgrounds) never will.
Btw... great post, Brad.
(1) http://cdixon.org/2010/06/19/builders-and-extractors/ http://cdixon.org/2010/06/19/builders-and-extractors/
- lsemel 16y agoThat's a big reason why I cut back on going to tech meetups and events. It's the same people at each event, people whose main skill is getting publicity for themselves and going to parties, rather than having any technical, creative, or business skill.
- jasonjei 16y agoSilicon Valley and SF tech companies tend to be incredibly incestuous. I find that companies that are more focused on product building rather than seeking the approval and validation of others in the industry tend to have a useful product. The problem is that you might be building a product that other SV/SF companies think would be useful, but to the vast majority, of little utility.