Zebras vs Unicorns: Money & Power in the Valley
#altSXSW
Thanks for coming to our panel!
Zebras vs Unicorns: Money and Power in the Valley
Capitalism is a hell of a drug. When used responsibly, it can create freedom, innovation and efficiency. But unchecked, hoarding, exploitation and careless behavior can run rampant. The tech world has created a great example of this with venture capital and “unicorns.” It’s not greed and growth at all costs…it’s just business. Right? Wrong.
We’re entering a new age, one where entrepreneurs want to create solutions to improve the human experience and quality of life without playing a zero sum game. This is the age of the zebra. Learn why purpose and profit do not have to be mutually exclusive, why creating alternatives to the venture capital status quo is a moral and economic imperative, and how innovation in business financing can help us solve the world’s big challenges.
Here’s a link to the deck we presented, as well as some further reading about Zebras, Unicorns, and inclusive capital.
🦓You can also learn more about Zebras and join the dazzle here: zebrasunite.com
Follow:
Astrid Scholz | @ajscholz
Jennifer Brandel | @jennierbrandel
Mara Zepeda | @marazepeda
FURTHER READING
New York Times: More Start-Ups Have an Unfamiliar Message for Venture Capitalists: Get Lost
Forbes: Platform Cooperatives Like Stocksy Have A Purpose Uber And Airbnb Never Will
Wall Street Journal: Venture Capital and Its Discontents
SaaStr: Why Only 12% of VCs Can Be Considered Successful. Max.
TechCrunch: The meeting that showed me the truth about VCs
Recode: Why venture capital doesn’t work for everyone
The Economist: The wave of unicorn IPOs reveals Silicon Valley’s groupthink
Fortune: ‘The Cheap Money Era’: 2019’s IPOs Have Delivered Some Harsh Lessons to Venture Capital
American Affairs Journal: Uber’s Path of Destruction
Buffer: We Spent $3.3M Buying Out Investors: Why and How We Did It
TechCrunch: Investors and entrepreneurs need to address the mental health crisis in startups
Zebras Unite: Zebras Fix What Unicorns Break
Inc: American Entrepreneurship Is Actually Vanishing. Here's Why
Strong Words: Indie VC v3 Terms
Village Capital: Alternative Investment Strategies to Drive Inclusive Innovation