What an amazingly true piece! I speak as one who has been an executive in several startups, and have seen the VC animal up close and personal.
I think if you are doing software (web or mobile apps - even enterprise if you do it carefully) today, and are reasonably smart, you have more leverage over the VC than ever before. Take the Google guys or Zuck - or any number of founders who understand how to win at that game. Smart founders take money on their terms, deal with VCs who respect them and stay in control of their destiny. Old school VC firms are falling away (albeit slowly) on Sand Hill, while the new breed (YC, AH, etc.) are dominating deal flow and results. Things have changed for the better.
I think if you are doing software (web or mobile apps - even enterprise if you do it carefully) today, and are reasonably smart, you have more leverage over the VC than ever before. Take the Google guys or Zuck - or any number of founders who understand how to win at that game. Smart founders take money on their terms, deal with VCs who respect them and stay in control of their destiny. Old school VC firms are falling away (albeit slowly) on Sand Hill, while the new breed (YC, AH, etc.) are dominating deal flow and results. Things have changed for the better.