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Who Are My Investors?

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Re: Who Are My Investors?

#91

Post by wpietri »

stephengillie wrote: post #48
3pt14159 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with the global system cracking is that it's pushing this work onto low-information people with mismatched incentives. If the Sauds have routine trouble getting money into funds they'll resort to tricks that will get them exposure in one way or another. They can acquire a company, they can create their own VP that doesn't list investors but co-invests. It's a never ending battle and one that we're not cap…

Just because they have other options doesn't mean the fight is lost before it's begun. We can make this more and more work for them, and keep sending the message. And yes, we can also work to place sanctions on investment from nations that ignore human rights. If we make better and best into enemies, there's no end to what we can't accomplish.

Agreed. There's no effort against bad actors that bad actors haven't tried to work around. Waiting for perfection means waiting forever. The right thing to do is to take the first obvious action, see if things get better, and then iterate.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#92

Post by unknownkadath »

nafey wrote: post #68
abalone wrote: post #61

I love that Wilson gives examples of ethical LPs like pension funds and educational endowments. Much of the criticism here is “well if you refuse to take tainted money then the world economy will grind to a halt.” But think of it... if the business community stopped taking tainted money, holding everyone to a high standard, that would be a powerful force to curb human rights abuses in the world. We do have ethical al…

Its a zero sum game. You might reject the investment but others wont

That's fine. Your conscience will be clear, and if you have a winner, you should attract other money. The biggest drawback is if your project is easy to replicate, in which case you have to ask if it should attract smart money in the first place.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#93

Post by y4mi »

TAForObvReasons wrote: post #79
swsieber wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People do change. Calling it posturing is premature judgement.

Until he comes out and says "we made $X from doing business with questionable entities, and here's how we gave back $X without lining our pockets", it's posturing.

You don't have to address every wrong you did in order to start doing right.

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.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#94

Post by swsieber »

almostdeadguy wrote: post #82
swsieber wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People do change. Calling it posturing is premature judgement.

People do change by supporting some of the most violent, racist, and brutal people in the US? Doesn't sound like much of a change to me. https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/

That doesn't sound like change. But bringing that up makes the judgement less premature. My point wasn't that he was good. My point was that people can change,and that past misdeeds don't necessarily define a person's future actions.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#95

Post by golemiprague »

dcposch wrote: post #38

Pretty much every single comment so far is cynical. "No one really wants to know how the sausage is made", lots of money is tainted anyway, it's just PR fluff, etc etc. The classic HN Middlebrow Dismissal in full effect. Counterpoint: cynicism is too easy. Actually giving a shit is harder, it's uncomfortable, it involves compromise. Yes, if you refuse investment from any country that has ever violated a human right,…

Who are the "worst offenders"? That's the big question and it really depends on your political point of view.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#96

Post by buboard »

refurb wrote: post #75

I hate it when, just because something becomes a big media story (I.e. Saudi Arabia killing a journalist) everyone comes out of the woodwork “oh dear! How can we not do business with these people?” When in fact, it’s been going on for decades and nobody gave a shit... until now, when giving a shit can firm up your virtue signaling.

The image of a dead child on the turkish shores 3 years ago instantly changed the attitude of millions of people towards refugees . It seems certain events trigger gut reactions to people , and that may not be virtue signaling. I think it's fair to say there's a lot more than that here.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#97

Post by noddy1 »

This is an excellent opportunity for social pressures so curb behaviour. MBS has 45 billion dollars in the vision fund, and if it doesn't work out well, he will look stupid. If the vision fund loses ability to invest in the best companies, this could potentially ruin their performance. Masayoshi Son and MBS need to be sent a message that their ability to invest will be limited if Saudi Arabia behaves in a shitty way.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#98

Post by qaq »

jacobsheehy wrote: post #72
rdlecler1 wrote: post #71

I’m going to be cynical here. AVC is an established fund with a great track record and can take a moral high road and ask others to do the same. But what if they were 18 months into raising their first fund and still pushing for the first close. Would they be so eager to take that high road?

> Would they be so eager to take that high road? In my opinion it has been made clear that doing business honestly and with morals will win in the long run. So yes they would have taken "that high road" because, if you want to be cynical, that is the way to make the most money. The only thing cynical about your comment is the idea that acting in bad faith is more profitable than acting in good faith. I think that our…

Do you have any good examples ? I'd love to believe "doing business honestly and with morals will win in the long run" I am not really seeing it play out in the real world especially when big biz. is concerned.

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#99

Post by TAForObvReasons »

y4mi wrote: post #93
TAForObvReasons wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until he comes out and says "we made $X from doing business with questionable entities, and here's how we gave back $X without lining our pockets", it's posturing.

You don't have to address every wrong you did in order to start doing right. 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.

> 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.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/nyregion/andrew-cuomo-har...

Re: Who Are My Investors?

#100

Post by throwawayinside »

Mark Zuckerberg and senior FB execs are limited partner in several funds, such as Greylock’s latest raise. When you pitch these guys on your next Facebook-killing idea, beware.

Personally, I think there’s money in the Valley that’s as dirty as the Saudis.

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