4 ms·

It may be true that you don't need to have worked in a white shoe firm to be respected in SV, but I'm pretty sure there's certain characteristics that are advan

It may be true that you don't need to have worked in a white shoe firm to be respected in SV, but I'm pretty sure there's certain characteristics that are advantageous: - Got into a top university. Good grades are popular, unsurprisingly. A proxy for intelligence and hard work. - Speaks English. How many YC folks don't? I'm sure there are a lot of smart people in the world who just didn't grow up with English and so are somewhat cut off from SV. Not insurmountable though. - High EQ. Helps smooth interactions with just about everyone, including investors and employees.

petejames 6y ago
> Speaks English. How many YC folks don't? It creates practical difficulties. Similar to when founders have accents so strong that people can't understand what they're saying: http://www.paulgraham.com/accents.html http://www.paulgraham.com/accents.html
ffggvv 6y ago
funny hearing you say high EQ and then looking at Zuck, Elon and even bill gates. all of whom are bordering on the spectrum
- 256lie 6y ago
  Maybe being a Harvard dropout with low EQ appeals more to VC. Elon makes up for it by working really work and having savior ego/massive hype that appeals to his fans and investors.
- SamReidHughes 6y ago
  Low EQ people seem more trustworthy. Maybe the super high EQ play low EQ as an act.
tjchear 6y ago
I vaguely remember Paul Graham said (and I'm paraphrasing very much) good grades or bigco background sends a signal that you're more cut out for working for others than running a business. But of course, the two don't have to be generally mutually exclusive.
- jedberg 6y ago
  Which is ironic coming from a guy with a PhD from Harvard.
emit_time 6y ago
He also went to an expensive private school.
troquerre 6y ago
There will always be characteristics that are advantageous, but what's beautiful about SV is that it's possible to succeed without those advantages. I'm not sure I've seen that anywhere else — at least not at the scale of SV.

petejames 6y ago

> Speaks English. How many YC folks don't? It creates practical difficulties. Similar to when founders have accents so strong that people can't understand what they're saying: http://www.paulgraham.com/accents.html http://www.paulgraham.com/accents.html

ffggvv 6y ago

funny hearing you say high EQ and then looking at Zuck, Elon and even bill gates. all of whom are bordering on the spectrum

256lie 6y ago
Maybe being a Harvard dropout with low EQ appeals more to VC. Elon makes up for it by working really work and having savior ego/massive hype that appeals to his fans and investors.
SamReidHughes 6y ago
Low EQ people seem more trustworthy. Maybe the super high EQ play low EQ as an act.

tjchear 6y ago

I vaguely remember Paul Graham said (and I'm paraphrasing very much) good grades or bigco background sends a signal that you're more cut out for working for others than running a business. But of course, the two don't have to be generally mutually exclusive.

jedberg 6y ago
Which is ironic coming from a guy with a PhD from Harvard.

emit_time 6y ago

He also went to an expensive private school.

troquerre 6y ago

There will always be characteristics that are advantageous, but what's beautiful about SV is that it's possible to succeed without those advantages. I'm not sure I've seen that anywhere else — at least not at the scale of SV.