Sublime

These creators are a far cry from Hollywood types. But with internet platforms, they can broadcast their knowledge and expertise. They’re also able to better monetize what they know and what they love: before YouTube, MKBHD might have worked as a techie at the Apple Store; now, he employs a dozen people and does tech reviews for 14 million subscrib... See more

Mark Zuckerberg: Could Facebook move faster? March 30, 2012

More generally, we are living in a context where power laws and non-linear takeoffs already reign supreme. NFTs were close to nothing a few months ago, now Beeple is worth more than most fine artists in the world. Redditors were never able to manipulate stock prices even slightly, until they were suddenly able to overpower a whole hedge fund.

That, not exploiting people, is the defining quality of people who become billionaires from starting companies. So that's what YC looks for in founders: authenticity. 

Many opt instead for a more real, meaningful, and uncultivated micro-network presence instead. In a micro-network, posing in a rented private jet becomes ridiculous, so different forms of social distinction take place, like closeness and belonging, knowledge and expertise, or talent and skill.

For creators with an existing audience, launching a DAO or selling NFTs might be fairly straightforward. But what if you don’t yet have an audience? The major benefit of centralized social apps is that they aggregate consumer attention.