> It is time for all of us in the startup and VC sector to do a deep dive on our investor base and ask the question that the CEO asked me. Who are our investors and can we be proud of them? And do we want to work for them?
I would extend that question even further: Can we be proud of the gains we've made by working with the investors we've dealt with in the past? If not, how are we addressing the problem?
You can't be forward looking without addressing the past. This is why the moral pleas never really gain traction. If Fred was honest he'd address the elephant in the room by accounting for and giving back the gains. Until that happens, this is empty posturing.
Politicians will do this, this isn't some crazy ask. For example, Cuomo put his money where his mouth is and "returned" the $110K donated by Weinstein through the years:
> “My message to everyone who has current accounts with money from Harvey Weinstein is, ‘Give that money back,’” the mayor added. “Give it to charity. Get the hell away from it.”
The market value is skewed by the fact that the money is tainted. To put it differently: if real estate wasn't as effective a vehicle for money laundering, prices in places like Vancouver wouldn't have skyrocketed. So while technically people paid "market value", the number is meaningless
It's never black and white with people.. and you're not actually looking at the real problem if you're unable to see the nuances.