“I have a chip on my shoulder,” she said, describing her drive to prove she can win over private equity in Silicon Valley based on merit, not inheritance or legacy …[T]he young founder hasn’t taken money from her parents for Phia. Instead, she’s insisted on raising outside capital even as some investors remain fixated on her personal life instead of her business venture.
I appreciate the sentiment, but it would be delusional to think her ability to “win over private equity” was divorced at all from her father’s legacy and last name. And actually, I’m not sure I appreciate the sentiment. In 2026, merit is way down the list, like scrawled sideways in the margins, of things that matter to private equity.
It’s certainly delusional. I’ve been active in the innovation space for ~25 years, and for most normal people it’s taking a massive risk. Here, she’s not ending-up on the street if the venture flops, so the risk is low.
So merit my ass, it’s easy to take a risk if it’s not real risk, i.e. I agree and don’t appreciate the sentiment.
Real question: what on earth does “on the street” mean in the tech startup world? Because I have a strong suspicion that “on the street” means just going to work a normal job like 300 million other people even despite personal anecdotes of one or two people who literally became homeless.
I appreciate the sentiment, but it would be delusional to think her ability to “win over private equity” was divorced at all from her father’s legacy and last name. And actually, I’m not sure I appreciate the sentiment. In 2026, merit is way down the list, like scrawled sideways in the margins, of things that matter to private equity.
It’s certainly delusional. I’ve been active in the innovation space for ~25 years, and for most normal people it’s taking a massive risk. Here, she’s not ending-up on the street if the venture flops, so the risk is low.
So merit my ass, it’s easy to take a risk if it’s not real risk, i.e. I agree and don’t appreciate the sentiment.
Real question: what on earth does “on the street” mean in the tech startup world? Because I have a strong suspicion that “on the street” means just going to work a normal job like 300 million other people even despite personal anecdotes of one or two people who literally became homeless.
like shot in the head and scrawled sideways in the margins
FTFY.