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I didn't know their old CEO died of drug overdose...wow! That's crazy to think... bad luck? I wonder if VCs have C levels take any drug tests or carry pretty th

I didn't know their old CEO died of drug overdose...wow! That's crazy to think... bad luck? I wonder if VCs have C levels take any drug tests or carry pretty thorough background check on founders who they invest into?!

kenneth 8y ago
Drug use is rampant in silicon valley. You wouldn't be a very successful investor is drug use was a disqualifying factor. Of course it depends what kind of drugs. Potheads don't make very good CEOs and Cocaine is usually associated with destructive behavior. A lot of people in tech do the occasional hallucinogens or ecstasy without much issues.
- ineedasername 8y ago
  I seem to remember an article (maybe TC?) citing low-dose LSD as a trendy drug in SV to spur on creativity etc. Edit: couldn't find it on TC, but here's a link to the same think from HuffPo: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/microdosing-lsd-placebo-study_n_5b8d1e48e4b0511db3daaaff https://www.huffpost.com/entry/microdosing-lsd-placebo-study...
- asdff 8y ago
  Has there ever been a large scale, well controlled study evaluating CEO performance under the influence of THC/coke/anything else vs. sober? Absolutely not, because as you say, these are only baseless behavioral associations to character flaws. If you are concerned about character flaws, evaluate that directly. Failing a drug test ruins peoples lives worse than smoking that joint ever did, and there are plenty of terrible people who've been sober all their life.
  - kenneth 8y ago
    They say Donald Trump doesn't drink — which is surprising when you think of his reputation as a womanizer.
etaerc 8y ago
Huh? There's a political battle for CEO in a multi million dollar startup and then the very new CEO dies on a drug overdose and nobody talks about possible murder?
- srouhaewaehy 8y ago
  Why was this downvoted? At least in the TechCrunch articles that option wasn't even mentioned.
  - untog 8y ago
    Because the police have already examined his death and concluded it was not suspicious. Ignoring that and posting speculation would be pretty reckless.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
raverbashing 8y ago
> I wonder if VCs have C levels take any drug tests or carry pretty thorough background check on founders who they invest into?! A basic due dilligence on the company, yeah But that seems like a very nice way of a VC getting shut out of multiple potential deals
asdff 8y ago
I think a mental health evaluation would be more prudent from the VC than a drug test. If they are struggling with addiction then that would come out in the mental health screen with the therapist, and instead of being denied opportunity during a fragile time of their life, they might actually get the help they need without ruining their life and finding themselves unemployed due to a failed drug test.

kenneth 8y ago

Drug use is rampant in silicon valley. You wouldn't be a very successful investor is drug use was a disqualifying factor. Of course it depends what kind of drugs. Potheads don't make very good CEOs and Cocaine is usually associated with destructive behavior. A lot of people in tech do the occasional hallucinogens or ecstasy without much issues.

ineedasername 8y ago
I seem to remember an article (maybe TC?) citing low-dose LSD as a trendy drug in SV to spur on creativity etc. Edit: couldn't find it on TC, but here's a link to the same think from HuffPo: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/microdosing-lsd-placebo-study_n_5b8d1e48e4b0511db3daaaff https://www.huffpost.com/entry/microdosing-lsd-placebo-study...
asdff 8y ago
Has there ever been a large scale, well controlled study evaluating CEO performance under the influence of THC/coke/anything else vs. sober? Absolutely not, because as you say, these are only baseless behavioral associations to character flaws. If you are concerned about character flaws, evaluate that directly. Failing a drug test ruins peoples lives worse than smoking that joint ever did, and there are plenty of terrible people who've been sober all their life.
- kenneth 8y ago
  They say Donald Trump doesn't drink — which is surprising when you think of his reputation as a womanizer.

etaerc 8y ago

Huh? There's a political battle for CEO in a multi million dollar startup and then the very new CEO dies on a drug overdose and nobody talks about possible murder?

srouhaewaehy 8y ago
Why was this downvoted? At least in the TechCrunch articles that option wasn't even mentioned.
- untog 8y ago
  Because the police have already examined his death and concluded it was not suspicious. Ignoring that and posting speculation would be pretty reckless.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]

raverbashing 8y ago

> I wonder if VCs have C levels take any drug tests or carry pretty thorough background check on founders who they invest into?! A basic due dilligence on the company, yeah But that seems like a very nice way of a VC getting shut out of multiple potential deals

asdff 8y ago

I think a mental health evaluation would be more prudent from the VC than a drug test. If they are struggling with addiction then that would come out in the mental health screen with the therapist, and instead of being denied opportunity during a fragile time of their life, they might actually get the help they need without ruining their life and finding themselves unemployed due to a failed drug test.