Entry 1: The Interplay2. A reference to New York-based Interplay Ventures.
Listen real carefully: the best way to not get screwed is to succeed3. A reference to Upfront Venture’s Mark Suster’s advice during a session at DogPatch Labs in 2011 (“The best way to not get screwed is to succeed”), as mentioned by Business Insider on November 23rd, 2018.
It’s a war out there, you gotta be careful when raising your seed
You have no true partner so learn to benchmark your ventures4. A reference to Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm True Ventures.
5. A reference to San Francisco-based venture capital firm Benchmark Capital.
Because tech dudes will try to crunch you on your first round6. A reference to Silicon Valley-based tech publication TechCrunch.
7. A reference to Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm First Round Capital.
So, if you borrowed seed money from a Colombian friend
Pay your pal and his mafia8. A reference to Silicon Valley’s Paypal Mafia. The PayPal Mafia is a group of former PayPal employees and founders who have since founded and developed additional technology companies such as Tesla, LinkedIn, Palantir Technologies, SpaceX, YouTube, Yelp, and Yammer. back before shit hits the fan
Mark my words carefully because this is going to be big9. A reference to Charlie O’Donnell’s blog "This Is Going To Be Big". Charlie is a New York-based venture capitalist who founded Brooklyn Bridge Ventures. In Subliminal Valley, he is a personal friend and mentor of Bob Dadood.
And share them with your antie, broer and suster10. "Suster" here means "sister". Bob uses this word as a reference to Mark Suster, the Managing Partner of Santa Monica-based Upfront Ventures.:
Even lawyers will screw you on your own cap table
I don’t wanna be starting something like Jackson11. A reference to Twitter sensation Startup L. Jackson, an anonymous tech personality who was known as "Silicon Valley’s Favorite Twitter Persona". It was later revealed that Parker Thompson, a San Francisco-based investor, created the character.
12. A reference to Michael Jackson and his hit Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.
But someone needs to break it down for you:
Raising dumb money is not a catalyst for change13. A reference to San Francisco-based Change Catalyst, an organization that builds inclusive tech ecosystems through strategic advising, startup programs, and a series of events around the globe. The organization was founded by tech leaders Melinda Epler and Wayne Sutton.
Shave off your insecurities for a moment: do you really need a billi14. "Billi" is a double reference to "Billion" and to Billie and its women’s shaving products. The company was recently acquired by P&G.?
All you need is 1 Million to get by and 1 Million15. A reference to Sramana Mitra's 1M/1M (One Million by One Million), a virtual accelerator for entrepreneurs. Sramana is a Silicon Valley-based serial entrepreneur and business writer. She is a strong advocate of revenue generation as a startup scale-up strategy, a philosophy that deeply resonates with Bob in the first chapter of Subliminal Valley. to scale decently
So don’t be accepting checks from yet another VC16. A reference to John Gannon’s blog which was called "Yet Another VC". John is the co-founder of Going VC,
Unless there is a damn good reason for it
Like having a Japanese investor from Kawasaki17. Kawasaki is an industrial city in the Greater Tokyo area. Bob uses this name to refer to Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki.
Or a Cuban cash cow, those boys are mavericks18. A reference to serial investor Mark Cuban.
19. A reference to the Dallas Cowboys.
20. A reference to the Dallas Mavericks which is owned by Mark Cuban.
21. A reference to San Francisco-based venture capital firm Maverick Ventures.
The VC that walked barefoot22. A reference to Jalak Jobanputra’s blog (The Barefoot VC). Jalak is a New York-based venture capitalist and the founder of Future Perfect Ventures. with you is ok
But all the others must bring data23. A reference to CB Insights’ newsletter tag line (“In God we trust, all the others must bring data”) which was first uttered by statistician William E. Deming.
You gotta understand the interplay24. A reference to New York-based venture capital firm Interplay Ventures. between cash and nada
Your burn rate is high and so if that investor
Who tries to organize your startup’s information25. A reference to Google’s mission statement (“organize all of the data in the world and make it accessible for everyone in a useful way”).
And make it universally accessible and useful for a valuation
A lot of VCs talk you into big numbers
And make it look like you are full of talent
When in reality, you’re as dull as a blank slate26. A reference to Tennessee-based venture capital firm Blank Slate Ventures.
The industry is full of clichés that make your club look like an ace
They want you to believe that you’ll make the world a better place27. A reference to Silicon Valley’s overused (and often parodied) mantra.
That the blue pill will make you thrive in the tech matrix28. A reference to Palo Alto-based private equity investment firm Matrix Partners.
29. The "blue pill", which means "blissful ignorance", is a reference to science fiction action film The Matrix which uses many subliminal messages and metaphors.
And that your social mission is your capital30. A reference to Palo Alto-based Social Capital.
As if banking in Silicon Valley31. A reference to Silicon Valley Bank, a U.S.-based high-tech commercial bank.
Makes you the world’s flagship venture32. A reference to Boston-based biotech investment firm Flagship Pioneering (formerly Flagship Ventures).
Don’t be evil, pay it forward, stay young, stay foolish33. A reference to various Silicon Valley idioms and famous sayings. "Don't be evil" is a phrase used in Google's corporate code of conduct. Silicon Valley’s Pay-It-Forward culture refers to how willing its tech leaders are to help and connect others. And "Stay Hungry Stay Foolish" is a famous quote of American business magnate Steve Jobs.
And all that good jazz34. A reference to San Francisco-based venture capital firm Jazz Venture Partners. that makes you think you’re the ish
Don’t confuse my words with sound35. A reference to Los Angeles-based venture capital Sound Ventures which was founded by actor-turned-investor Ashton Kutcher. investment advice
I got 500 hats36. A reference to Dave McClure’s blog (500 Hats). Dave is a San Francisco-based investor who founded the early-stage venture fund and seed accelerator 500 Startups. but a VC37. A reference to Fred Wilson’s blog (AVC). Fred is a venture capitalist who founded Union Square Ventures, a New York City-based venture capital firm. ain’t one
I’m just the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude38. A reference to Robert (Bob) Downey Jr.’s line in the Tropic Thunder movie (“I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude”). Bob is also starting to experience multiple personality traits which will gradually become more apparent in the upcoming chapters..