Venture is about building the future.
This may contribute to the perception that the venture and startup space has become particularly “politicized.” But this is not really a choice: entrepreneurs do not just agnostically respond to market signals, or even just improve efficiency of a mature product. They come up with something new that they believe the world needs and, in a sense, will it into existence.
At least in many cases, the question of what to build is irreducibly political.
Facebook's mission was to "make the world more open and connected." This is a far cry from "build and sell widgets," and reflects an inherently political vision for how Mark Zuckerberg hoped to make (or at least help) people organize themselves. But even selling a new widget may have significant political impact: a proliferation of a new tool can have cascading effects that reshape industries and even societies.
A founder's belief about the world shapes what he bets on and builds—and thus the world we live in. A founder who holds a pessimistic view of human capability might build a software tool to micromanage many aspects of a team's work (much as Taylorism did the same in factories a century ago); even if his assumptions prove incorrect, the tool may nevertheless move organizational practices in this direction. Likewise, a tool designed to empower a particular type of worker could enhance the productivity of that role and drive a virtuous cycle in which more capable people pursue it, more tools are built for them, and so on.
Today, a left-wing ideology attacks natural distinctions, traditional norms, and our nation’s heritage. It is profoundly anti-human, eroding the very foundations of human excellence and undermining entrepreneurial initiative and economic success throughout our society. This ideology is pervasive: culture, politics, and certainly business—including the startup and venture capital space. Founders and investors are increasingly pressured to conform to its demands.
Yet the American spirit remains strong. Entrepreneurs continue to invest enormous effort in ambitious projects. In the face of the dominant corporate ideology, many pursue ideas and technologies designed to free us from censorship and bureaucracy. Many more simply seek to build great things—and gravitate to communities that share their aspirations.
Our work is inherently political. In everything from the network technologies that shape our digital environment to the marketing messages that influence our aspirations, Americans are hungry for options that reflect our ideals and inspire our efforts. With political divisions permeating society, and most concepts of "progress" shaped by the left, our goal, through venture, is to help define and realize a distinct positive vision.
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