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A Reminder To Investors

blog.ycombinator.com

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Re: A Reminder To Investors

#61

Post by LandoCalrissian »

obvious_throw wrote: post #36
minimaxir wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This happens all the time in the startup world. It's not something you'd see on the tech blogs.

"all the time" in the mind of Shanley Kane, et. al. Disclaimers like these are mainly CYA statements such that the rabid hordes of social justice warriors don't throw Y Combinator under the bus on Pando because of a disgruntled founder looking to capitalize on feels where capitalizing on actual talent or acumen failed.

Oh come on, you honestly believe that someone who has sacrificed their time, friends and family to get an idea off the ground isn't vulnerable to being taking advantage of by investors?

This isn't a super out there PC statement that is being made. It's simply saying that this is a professional event and the expectation is for the relationships to be kept professional. You know, how it should always be.

That's not tumblr craziness, that is just basic respect and professionalism.

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#62

Post by bdcravens »

sebkomianos wrote: post #45

In which world, universe, philosophy, call-it-however-you-want, is "romantic behaviour" more sexist than holding a "FEMALE Founders Conference"?

We're not talking pure sexism here, we're talking about a possible manipulation and abuse of relationship.

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#63

Post by davidtgoldblatt »

Something I've been wondering since the Forbes article - is inappropriate investor behavior illegal? The things described there would unambiguously be sexual harassment if someone's manager did them; it seems unfortunate if the only tool to fight investor/founder harassment is social pressure.

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#64

Post by highCs »

While everybody can understand the anger, the bad behaviors of some individuals must not be generalized to a profession, can it? Maybe "Demo Day attendees" would be more appropriate than investors.

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#65

Post by avalaunch »

>Y Combinator has a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate sexual or romantic behavior from investors toward founders.

This implies that some sexual or romantic behavior from investors toward founders would be considered appropriate. If that's not the intended message, inappropriate should be replaced with something like 'any and all'.

While I'm not in any startup circles at the moment I would be curious for some clarification. Is it ever acceptable for an investor to pursue a romantic relationship with a founder? After the founder is funded (by another investor), for example. Or if the founder initiates?

EDIT: anyone want to explain the down votes? I point out what I find to be a confusing point in the message and ask for clarification. I didn't even express an opinion on the overall matter one way or the other. I simply asked for clarification and made what I thought was a useful suggestion. In what way is anything I wrote offensive or otherwise worthy of being down voted?

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#66

Post by minimaxir »

walshemj wrote: post #54
untog wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Demo Day is a business context. If you are an investor talking to the founder of a YC startup, it's a business conversation. There shouldn't be any hint of romance, dates, flirting. Explicit enough for you?

Then say all and not inappropriate - presumably you come down with a fit of vapours when NCIS is on and Toy and Ziva flirt.

A television show isn't a justification for real life behavior.

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#67

Post by chimeracoder »

davidtgoldblatt wrote: post #63

Something I've been wondering since the Forbes article - is inappropriate investor behavior illegal? The things described there would unambiguously be sexual harassment if someone's manager did them; it seems unfortunate if the only tool to fight investor/founder harassment is social pressure.

> is inappropriate investor behavior illegal?

Depends on what behavior we're talking about, but the simplest answer is no - lots of inappropriate behavior is not illegal.

It's not an investor-founder story, but a related and eye-opening read is the story from the co-founder of Meebo, titled "Why I Now Believe the Glass Ceiling Is Real"[0].

[0] http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/2013/10/11/elaine-wherry-w...

Re: A Reminder To Investors

#69

Post by sebkomianos »

bdcravens wrote: post #62
sebkomianos wrote: post #45

In which world, universe, philosophy, call-it-however-you-want, is "romantic behaviour" more sexist than holding a "FEMALE Founders Conference"?

We're not talking pure sexism here, we're talking about a possible manipulation and abuse of relationship.

Abuse of relationship is abuse of relationship, fullstop. It doesn't need to be "of the sexism kind" to be reprehensible.
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