<2> Silicon Valley’s Ideas Mocked Over Penchant for Favoring Young Entrepreneurs with ‘Agency’
<3> The Rise of the “Agency” Culture
In a recent exposé, a writer for Harper’s visited San Francisco’s young entrepreneurs to mockingly profile “tech’s new generation and the end of thinking.” The article highlights the phenomenon of Silicon Valley’s investors rewarding young people with “agency,” a concept that has become increasingly popular in the tech industry.
<3> The Characteristics of “Agency”
According to the article, being a highly agentic individual has less to do with actually doing things and more to do with constantly chasing attention online. The writer describes the phenomenon as a “brutally simplified miniature of the entire VC economy,” where people are rewarded for their online presence and clout rather than their skills or achievements.
<3> The Case of Eric Zhu
One of the most fascinating stories in the article is that of Eric Zhu, a teenage founder who built his own venture-capital fund, managing $20 million. Zhu’s story is a testament to the power of “agency” in Silicon Valley, where he was able to raise millions of dollars and take calls with a U.S. senator without having any particular skills or experience.
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