Valley Protege Culture

Jeremy Giffon shares an observation about the relationship dynamic between successful Silicon Valley leaders and their young proteges.

"In the Valley, every billionaire has one or two really young smart proteges who float around them. There's this tacit agreement where you come work for me for 2-3 years, you shadow me, you're my apprentice, and then I will back you and open doors for you.

I was in social situations where it's like flying under the flag of a lord. Everyone is going on the private jets of these principals, and they themselves are probably broke, but they live this lifestyle because they're under the protection of a lord.

I figured out it's also an age gap thing. If you're within 20 years of the founder or the number one person in the organization, you're almost always going to be a guy. If you look at all the great firms or companies where someone has become the new number one, there's almost always at least a 20-year gap between them.

There are lots of examples of this - Ben Casanocha was Reid Hoffman's chief of staff, Blake Masters with Peter Thiel, Sam Altman was this to Paul Graham. It can really open doors of either investment or vouching or connections."