Silicon Valley Must Head to Wall Street & Washington

Answering your (great) questions with a few more

Gabe Kleinman
Jul 27, 2017 · 1 min read

The laws and social norms that govern our economic realities have created a short-term modus operandi that is in direct conflict with humanity’s long-term interest. While you suggest this is primarily a Silicon Valley issue, it is quite pervasive within the broader economy.

Agree: Pressing social and environmental issues — deepening inequality, surging political populism, the realities of climate change and COP21 — are forcing the question of how we might redefine, and further redesign, our capitalist systems.

The key issues SV must wrestle with have origins in and are inextricably linked to New York and Washington: short-termism, shareholder vs. stakeholder value, economic theory, consumer skepticism, and the failure of leadership.

How might Silicon Valley move capitalism forward in a way that preserves free market principles while addressing these existential threats? I’d look to emergent companies addressing the issues above — specifically how they’re upending areas like capital markets, citizens' relationship with government, consumer finance, and corporate governance — not solely the tech giants raking in dollars from various corners of our economy.

Gabe Kleinman

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father of daughters. portfolio services + marketing @obviousvc.

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