What is Zebras Unite or any of the startups/venture firms mentioned in this article ... and why are any of them considered meaningful or impactful organizations

What is Zebras Unite or any of the startups/venture firms mentioned in this article ... and why are any of them considered meaningful or impactful organizations? The idea that startups are rejecting venture capital en masse on the basis of interviewing a hodge podge of random startups and micro VC's this journalist seems to be friends with is absurd.