Keep Calm and Stop Complaining.

Ravi — I am probably going to get flamed by many folks for this response, but THANK YOU for saying this.

The tone that’s emerging on this publication…blaming a lack of VCs who “get it” in Austin — is just embarrassing.

I will say something that others are likely thinking but might be unwilling to say clearly….Smart VCs in Silicon Valley reading this (to the extent that they exist anywhere :-) ) are going to think that Austin has a bunch of second-rate founders if this kind of collective, defensive, self-pitying hyperventilating continues. Founders need to STOP THIS and stop it now. This publication needs to be about Austin founders and the LEGENDARY companies they want to start….not this other tripe.

Does anyone seriously think Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos complained about the lack of smart VCs in Seattle when they started Microsoft and Amazon? Do you think Elon Musk wrote angry blog posts because VCs didn’t “get” electric cars? You have to be kidding me. They just set about building legendary companies.

Great founders lead, unapologetically and with no excuses. That’s what matters to them. VCs are secondary by a mile. And founders who write blog posts to complain about this stuff are showing one thing and one thing only — they need to learn some basic time management and focus skills if they expect to be taken seriously.

Ravi — I’m sure I will go down in flames with you now for this. But sometimes the best gift you can offer is tough love that sucks to hear but is unflinchingly honest and just the right medicine. I would rather fight for legendary and piss people off than pretend this kind of nonsense is OK. Austin founders….when you write posts complaining about VCs rather than showing how you can build legendary companies….you are DAMAGING the credibility and appeal of Austin.

Focus, focus, focus.