3 ms·

Not sure, but to play devil's advocate, most people here have put far more than 5 years into technical talent. The problem is that the real world runs on connec

Not sure, but to play devil's advocate, most people here have put far more than 5 years into technical talent. The problem is that the real world runs on connections, not capability. I don't think it's unreasonable to dedicate 5 years to networking and become more "well-rounded". The open question is whether those connections are going to be worth anything in a decade, or whether it will be better to be "connected" to some other set of people. Completely unpredictable. I don't think you learn how to run startups in an MBA program, but top MBAs are the only way to get into top VC firms under 30, and that will help you a lot in the fundraising process. People are less likely to throw multiple liquidation preferences at people they personally know and consider "one of us". What I will say is that it's probably not worth into pursue an MBA at a non-top school. You know law school's "top 14"? For MBA programs, there are 3 or 4. If their graduates aren't getting into top venture capital firms, don't apply.

ctingom 15y ago
How does ambition fall into the connections and capability mix?
- philwelch 15y ago
  You use ambition to build connections and capability.
csomar 15y ago
Can an environment based on connections and not capabilities be sustainable. May be. It's possible. But you have to be careful that another environment (which is start-ups) sucks some of your market share and many of the competent people out there (going as founders or co-founders). At some point, you'll finally collapse and over paying those "well-rounded" people no longer pay-off if they don't have an equivalent experience. So you need: 1- Good Skills for the business; at any time. 2- Good Connections for the business; this business and this time. You are good to go. If you can't make 1+2 happen, then definitively pick up 1. It's the safest bet in the long run and you can get back (and stronger) to 2 at any time. I dropped 1 at one company and focused on building my technical skills. I have never regretted it, I'm actually doing it again.
jaf12duke 15y ago
I found the opposite to be true. I went to a top tier school but 99% of my connections to the VC world did not come through my MBA network. They came from building good products, YC, and blogging--in that order. Incubators like YC are far better at connecting first-time entrepreneurs to top angels and VCs. And investors are far less likely to be abusive with an entrepreneur that is backed by a good incubator because it would affect future deal flow.

ctingom 15y ago

How does ambition fall into the connections and capability mix?

philwelch 15y ago
You use ambition to build connections and capability.

csomar 15y ago

Can an environment based on connections and not capabilities be sustainable. May be. It's possible. But you have to be careful that another environment (which is start-ups) sucks some of your market share and many of the competent people out there (going as founders or co-founders). At some point, you'll finally collapse and over paying those "well-rounded" people no longer pay-off if they don't have an equivalent experience. So you need: 1- Good Skills for the business; at any time. 2- Good Connections for the business; this business and this time. You are good to go. If you can't make 1+2 happen, then definitively pick up 1. It's the safest bet in the long run and you can get back (and stronger) to 2 at any time. I dropped 1 at one company and focused on building my technical skills. I have never regretted it, I'm actually doing it again.

jaf12duke 15y ago

I found the opposite to be true. I went to a top tier school but 99% of my connections to the VC world did not come through my MBA network. They came from building good products, YC, and blogging--in that order. Incubators like YC are far better at connecting first-time entrepreneurs to top angels and VCs. And investors are far less likely to be abusive with an entrepreneur that is backed by a good incubator because it would affect future deal flow.