The value in the Silicon Valley startup model this article seems to miss (and bash) is that it's there. With programs like YC, VC firms and plenty of prior star

The value in the Silicon Valley startup model this article seems to miss (and bash) is that it's there. With programs like YC, VC firms and plenty of prior startup examples (data), potential entrepreneurs (and also investors) can get a good sense what they need to do to succeed. Success of course is still statistical, but it's there. For example I started a company in E.Europe, and here it's not clear at all what process you have to follow to succeed. You may think that an entrepreneur has to figure that out, but that's not a good way to look at it. A good entrepreneur, since he's already involved in a venture with high overall risks, will minimize individual risks whenever possible. By following a model such as the YC/SV model, where he is advised, maximizes the inflow of information about his idea/BP etc, he can achieve that.