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SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
31–40 of 111 posts
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#32Limiting initiatives like this based on skin color, implies that the reason for them needing help is their skin color. What about white people that come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds? Broken families? Didn't finish high-school? Abused as a child/teenager? Single parent family? Aren't these the real reasons why people are disadvantaged? People of all colors come from these backgrounds. I'm sick of the hypocrisy o…
That's a valid stance. But reflect on why it matters to you. So what if someone is giving special opportunities to someone based on their skin color, or their gender? There are plenty of special opportunities to go around for all of us. I think you'll get a lot of flak for this sentiment. But I used to feel the same way as you. What helped me change my mind was to realize that no one is taking away opportunities from…
>There are plenty of special opportunities to go around for all of us.
By definition this isn't true.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's a valid stance. But reflect on why it matters to you. So what if someone is giving special opportunities to someone based on their skin color, or their gender? There are plenty of special opportunities to go around for all of us. I think you'll get a lot of flak for this sentiment. But I used to feel the same way as you. What helped me change my mind was to realize that no one is taking away opportunities from…
> So what if someone is giving special opportunities to someone based on their skin color, or their gender? Because if it is done for white people, or to men, it would be heavily criticised for being racist/sexist. I am purely advocating for consistency, and for tackling the real problems (education, socio-economic, familial, etc.). I am sick of the corporate hypocrisy during COVID (we really care about you!), and we…
But it is done to white people, and in huge proportions. White people are much more likely to be hired than black people given the same resume. See other comments for more details.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#34Japan is not known for having senses finely tuned to the shifting winds of American race relations.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
> So what if someone is giving special opportunities to someone based on their skin color, or their gender? Because it’s racist.
Say there was a disease that predominantly affected a given race. Would you then object to a health system producing a tailored response to that group based on group characteristics? e.g. https://www.gaucherdisease.org/blog/5-common-ashkenazi-genet...
These diseases are based on genetic differences, and the tailored treatments are based on genetic differences. Are you really implying that there are genetic differences between the races that cause differences? I find that pretty racist.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
Say there was a disease that predominantly affected a given race. Would you then object to a health system producing a tailored response to that group based on group characteristics? e.g. https://www.gaucherdisease.org/blog/5-common-ashkenazi-genet...
Of course not, if race was proven to be the actual underlying factor. The point in the OP was that the underlying cause is not race, but other group traits (low socio-economic status, poor family background) - which people of all races can and do possess.
I'm not replying to that.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#37Limiting initiatives like this based on skin color, implies that the reason for them needing help is their skin color. What about white people that come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds? Broken families? Didn't finish high-school? Abused as a child/teenager? Single parent family? Aren't these the real reasons why people are disadvantaged? People of all colors come from these backgrounds. I'm sick of the hypocrisy o…
I personally hate these initiatives because they don't deal with problem at the core. They should have policies that address every fund they manage, not some 100m, which is peanuts for them. I really like how YC does it. Yes, there are problems with YC, but their main program is really good at taking people from different economic/social/racial backgrounds. Have tonnes of friends from disadvantaged backgrounds and de…
YC also invests in non-profits. There is a strong social/corrective undertone in its investments.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#38Limiting initiatives like this based on skin color, implies that the reason for them needing help is their skin color. What about white people that come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds? Broken families? Didn't finish high-school? Abused as a child/teenager? Single parent family? Aren't these the real reasons why people are disadvantaged? People of all colors come from these backgrounds. I'm sick of the hypocrisy o…
I agree that there should be more funds that support all kinds of backgrounds so that we can increase the diversity of people in the VC space. This reminds me a lot of the discussions about affirmative action in the US, which is divisive on both sides, and I do see a strong argument for using class as the main determinant. However, black founders often mention that they are declined funding because they don't look similar to the investors, and while most entrepreneurs need to go through a lot of investors, its often hard to tell if you're getting rejected because of your idea or the color of your skin.
Just because it would be ideal to have programs for all disadvantaged backgrounds doesn't make one specifically for POC bad imo.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#39Limiting initiatives like this based on skin color, implies that the reason for them needing help is their skin color. What about white people that come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds? Broken families? Didn't finish high-school? Abused as a child/teenager? Single parent family? Aren't these the real reasons why people are disadvantaged? People of all colors come from these backgrounds. I'm sick of the hypocrisy o…
The purpose of such initiatives is to counter the prevalent social bias. If two similarly educated and otherwise skilled FAANG employees pitch same idea to different VCs, the success ratio is tilted against POC.
Rest of the causes need to be looked upon at various stages of life and via various support measures, this particular caters to racial bias.
Re: SoftBank launches $100m minorities startup fund
#40I'm curious, how are all these initiatives defining who is eligible? Are half black people permitted? 1/4?