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With Ukraine, is it time for a defense batch at YC?

With a lot of people flying Ukraine flags, I just wanted to pose the question. I worry whether the leaders of Silicon Valley will remember its roots (1) or prefer to let the world become a more dangerous place through a policy of splendid isolation (term borrowed from British diplomats and MIT electrical engineer Vannevar Bush, 2,3). (1) https://steveblank.com/secret-history/ (2) Not the best link, but I can't find the essay online outside a paywalls: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7312/bush11642-012/html (3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_isolation

eimrine 4y ago
I am a Ukrainian but I haven't understood your question. First video has some cite from Bible which means a no-go for me, second link is something paywalled, only third article is understandable. upd: Also I can understand your nickname, this is a famous military meme about kilroy.
- WHATDOESIT 4y ago
  Silicon Valley got big thanks to government-funded defense projects. The question is whether SV will return to its past or rather will support US isolationism - in which case the potential new defense projects might be kinda useless.
- UncleOxidant 4y ago
  Yeah, it's a bible verse (And Ye Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Make You Free – John 8:32), but the point being made is that that particular bible verse is (or was) etched into the wall of lobby of the original CIA headquarters. It wasn't quoted there on that page in an effort to proselytize or even to make any sort of epistemological claim about a particular religion.
- retrocryptid 4y ago
  If you can see past the bibleness on the web page, the video really is pretty decent and contains no religious content.
retrocryptid 4y ago
Fwiw... I've seen that Steve Blank video on the Secret History of Sili Valley and highly recommend it.
jopsen 4y ago
I doubt the defense industry is a good place for VC funded start-up. Growth is hopefully pretty limited. But I got to ask why? Sure, the world feels rocky at the moment, there's a war, energy prices a soaring, inflation, and we're all waiting for a recession we expect to happen. But, that doesn't mean wars are going to be more frequent. I'm sure the defense sector has opportunities to make a good buck. But if you want to change the world, I doubt that's where it'll be happening.

eimrine 4y ago

I am a Ukrainian but I haven't understood your question. First video has some cite from Bible which means a no-go for me, second link is something paywalled, only third article is understandable. upd: Also I can understand your nickname, this is a famous military meme about kilroy.

WHATDOESIT 4y ago
Silicon Valley got big thanks to government-funded defense projects. The question is whether SV will return to its past or rather will support US isolationism - in which case the potential new defense projects might be kinda useless.
UncleOxidant 4y ago
Yeah, it's a bible verse (And Ye Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Make You Free – John 8:32), but the point being made is that that particular bible verse is (or was) etched into the wall of lobby of the original CIA headquarters. It wasn't quoted there on that page in an effort to proselytize or even to make any sort of epistemological claim about a particular religion.
retrocryptid 4y ago
If you can see past the bibleness on the web page, the video really is pretty decent and contains no religious content.

retrocryptid 4y ago

Fwiw... I've seen that Steve Blank video on the Secret History of Sili Valley and highly recommend it.

jopsen 4y ago

I doubt the defense industry is a good place for VC funded start-up. Growth is hopefully pretty limited. But I got to ask why? Sure, the world feels rocky at the moment, there's a war, energy prices a soaring, inflation, and we're all waiting for a recession we expect to happen. But, that doesn't mean wars are going to be more frequent. I'm sure the defense sector has opportunities to make a good buck. But if you want to change the world, I doubt that's where it'll be happening.