On 1 October 2026 I posted on X about why I left Silicon Valley six years ago, calling the region a “monoculture” where every dinner party feels like a tech‑only gathering.
- I attribute my departure to a monoculture:
- I describe a stack‑ranking hierarchy that I see as pure toxicity that nerfs creativity:
I end the post with a self‑deprecating note: “That’s why I never moved. 😉”
These observations raise open questions about how pervasive this ranking mindset is across tech hubs and what alternative social structures might mitigate the monoculture effect.
- Founder of a company with a $100 B market cap
- Founder of a company with a $50 B market cap
- Managing partner of a tier‑1 venture firm
- Hired CEO of a $50 B public company
- Founder of a $10 B company
- …etc.
- “Because it's a monoculture”
- “Show up to a dinner party and everyone is in tech”