REJECTED!

I received the rejection email from Andreessen Horowitz regarding my startup idea on the same day the massive and influential VC announced its agreement to back Adam Neumann’s new business idea.

In fairness, the application form was sparse and required a brief idea pitch along with highlights of my professional background, and I’m guessing Neumann’s pitch included more information (maybe? hoping at least?). I also assume there are some amazing ideas and phenomenal founders who deserved to beat me in this competition. And this is not my idea’s first rejection.

But I had to laugh and shake my head that these two events occurred on the same day. Others have given more succinct opinions around the terrible optics of the Neumann investment than I can (Kate Brodock Allison Byers - see comments below for article). I’ve even seen at least one plausible explanation which doesn’t include apparent biases (Will Nitze - see comments below for post). I’m willing to leave space (a small one) for the idea that these decisions are made in the best interests of VC investors without unconscious bias.

But I will be watching - more closely than I ever planned - as two very different visions play out. Who wants to track the performance of Neumann’s Flow versus the Serena Ventures portfolio with me?