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I think replies to this comment miss the point. The author is stating that the "YC model" -- which falls under capitalism -- is generally incapable of fostering

I think replies to this comment miss the point. The author is stating that the "YC model" -- which falls under capitalism -- is generally incapable of fostering the development of society in any meaningful way.

ekianjo 7y ago
So how would it be like if it were to foster society in a meaningful way? What else should they be doing?
- lone-commenter 7y ago
  They should not. Mine was a factual statement. I'm not saying they should be doing things differently; else they would become something else than a startup accelerator. What I'm saying is that their moral contribution to society, as a startup accelerator, is minimal. Indeed, I believe this is true of virtually all the Silicon Valley. [Edit: Fixed typo.]
seem_2211 7y ago
I don't agree. I think enterprise software is a big lever that we can use to improve society. It looks different to biotech and cancer cures, but it's still important. Enterprise software should make businesses more efficient, and productive. And we have that now. I can run a business that employs people from anywhere, using Quickbooks (accounting & billing), Rippling (HR/payroll/IT), Brex (charge card) etc. I built a simple website earlier this year on Squarespace (far better than handcoding it myself, or using old editing software). I can collect payments from anywhere using Stripe and Paypal. If I was running an ecommerce site, I'd probably be using Shopify and that related world of plugins. Productivity growth is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and software lets us do that, without harming the environment. YC is a great addition to capitalism and societal development.
- lone-commenter 7y ago
  Yes, technology can benefit any field; I know it. But this doesn't make all this startup business around things which are completely divorced from reality worth to pursue. Productivity growth is a myth of the money-centric attitude that I'm criticizing; I don't see how it could confute my point.

ekianjo 7y ago

So how would it be like if it were to foster society in a meaningful way? What else should they be doing?

lone-commenter 7y ago
They should not. Mine was a factual statement. I'm not saying they should be doing things differently; else they would become something else than a startup accelerator. What I'm saying is that their moral contribution to society, as a startup accelerator, is minimal. Indeed, I believe this is true of virtually all the Silicon Valley. [Edit: Fixed typo.]

seem_2211 7y ago

I don't agree. I think enterprise software is a big lever that we can use to improve society. It looks different to biotech and cancer cures, but it's still important. Enterprise software should make businesses more efficient, and productive. And we have that now. I can run a business that employs people from anywhere, using Quickbooks (accounting & billing), Rippling (HR/payroll/IT), Brex (charge card) etc. I built a simple website earlier this year on Squarespace (far better than handcoding it myself, or using old editing software). I can collect payments from anywhere using Stripe and Paypal. If I was running an ecommerce site, I'd probably be using Shopify and that related world of plugins. Productivity growth is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and software lets us do that, without harming the environment. YC is a great addition to capitalism and societal development.

lone-commenter 7y ago
Yes, technology can benefit any field; I know it. But this doesn't make all this startup business around things which are completely divorced from reality worth to pursue. Productivity growth is a myth of the money-centric attitude that I'm criticizing; I don't see how it could confute my point.