The Israel tech scene he recounted
When discussing his involvement in the Israel tech scene he recounted a personal story about ageism in Silicon Valley:
What I like about Israel — in many cases — there’s no age discrimination. I could be in Tel Aviv in two week and be pitched by a 72-year-old person, or their 16-year-old great grandson. They can even be together. It doesn’t matter. There’s no concept that if you’re old you’re useless.
I personally with my current start-up, I was in Silicon Valley two years ago meeting a partner of one of the most famous VCs in the world and when he told me to my face, told me “Jeff, look, you’re not 25 years old having just left Facebook as a product manager, because if you were I have $5 million for you.” He looked at me and said I was worthless.
During the talk with AEI fellow James K. Glassman, the 52-year-old also explained the parallels he sees between start-ups and rock bands:
When I meet a start-up I always ask them who is the lead singer. Because in a band the lead singer doesn’t have to play an instrument. They just have to lead. They have to have stage presence they have to have that wow. So with my start-ups I don’t care whether or not the CEO can code or not I just want to know if they’ll lead.