Why Silicon Valley Is Obsessed with 'Founder Etiquette'
Date
Feb 23, 2026
Classification
- Startups
Why Silicon Valley Started Teaching Founders Etiquette
#StartupInvestment #FounderEtiquette #BusinessManners #SiliconValley
🫑 3-Line Summary
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The era of securing investment based solely on superior products and technology is fading, and the founder's attitude and trustworthiness are emerging as core competitive advantages.
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Former Facebook VP Sam Lessin even personally held a hotel etiquette class for the YC founders who were missing opportunities at investment meetings due to a lack of basic manners.
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As technology has become standardized at a higher level due to AI, the dignity and composure of the people to whom data can be trusted have instead come to have a greater influence on investment decisions.
🥦 Insight
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'Low heart rate' is more important than a perfect pitch deck
Even an incredible pitch deck crafted all night and a flashy technical demonstration are bound to lose their luster in the face of the urgency felt when entering a meeting room. This is especially true for early-stage entrepreneurs seeking their first seed investment; it is essential to train yourself to lower your heart rate and build trust with a relaxed attitude, rather than letting desperation get the better of you. Ultimately, investment is not like an Excel spreadsheet but like a romantic relationship between people, so it is time to re-examine the fundamentals of showcasing your team's appeal naturally and courteously.
🥄 A spoonful of execution
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If you have an important meeting coming up, try arriving just five minutes early and taking a deep breath in the waiting room. Letting go of your impatience, a firm handshake can build more trust than a hundred words of explanation.
—— View Original ——
The end of the myth that technical skills alone are enough; the era has arrived where you must learn how to shake hands to receive investment.
I remember when I received new employee orientation a long time ago.
Oddly enough, there was a course called 'Global Etiquette,' and it seemed that the lectures were given by people who had lived abroad as expatriates.
At the time, I wondered why I was learning such things, but looking back, I think I made the most useful use of what I learned then.
While some workplace etiquette was specific to Korea, the content was generally applicable anywhere.
For example, when should the youngest member get on and off an elevator with superiors? Where is the seat of honor in a car? What is the arrangement and usage of the fork and knife when eating Western food?
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