Venture Capital Needs a Complete Reset

Only by returning to its roots can the VC industry thrive in the years ahead

Gabe Kleinman
Marker

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Illustrations: Michele Marconi

Though I’ve worked in venture capital for the past four years, I still identify as an outsider. The majority of grand VC musings today from the industry’s most visible figures don’t align with my values. Investors have become known for funding products and services that create more systemic problems than the conveniences they provide.

But today, I’ve never been more optimistic for the future of venture capital. With high-flying valuations vanishing, we must engage earnestly with companies around resiliency, durability, and purpose. With gig workers providing for our basic life necessities, we can’t help but imagine how technology could remove them from harm’s way. With loved ones dying around us, we have no choice but to consider every aspect of our collective health, and how we care for it.

With history watching, now is the moment for our industry to step up. And if we succeed, the returns will follow like never before.

Big vision, creative thinking, and huge risks

Venture capital’s past — more creative, visionary, and risk-prone than much of what we see now — is instructive for anyone in the business today, especially…

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