Wednesday, November 9, 2016

"Silicon Valley Wants to Fund California's Secession, #Calexit"

The secessionist, Mr. Pishevar, is a co-founder and MD of Sherpa Capital who own Munchery (early, A, B, C) Airbnb (D round) Uber (D, E) and Beepi, ipsy, Shyp and Expa.

They seem to have avoided Bitly, Borkly, Barnly, Molestly, Strinkingly, Happily, Crappily, Maply, Morply, Dottly, Dootly, Godly and Angrily.
(all real startups

Unfortunately Sherpa investee Washio-the Uber for washing clothes-has already folded (see what I did there?)

From Inverse:

As the 2016 United States election results rolled in late Tuesday evening, some of California’s wealthiest and most influential entrepreneurs began to voice support for California’s secession.

Shervin Pishevar, the founder of Hyperloop One, went on a tirade about it; Dave Morin, entrepreneur and CEO of Path, volunteered for the project — “New California” — as did several other entrepreneurs.

“If Trump wins,” Pishevar wrote, as that outcome grew more and more likely, “I am announcing and funding a legitimate campaign for California to become its own nation.”

He continued: “It’s the most patriotic thing we can do. Country is at serious crossroads.” Meanwhile on Twitter, #Calexit began trending as U.S. citizens evidently found inspiration in Britain’s referendum to leave the European Union, or Brexit.

While no one can deny the fact that the U.S. is at a crossroads, it’s not unreasonable to question whether a large-scale secessionist movement is what the U.S. needs. In addition, it’s not unreasonable to wonder whether a majority of California’s residents would support such an audacious move.

For those opposed to a Donald Trump presidency, there are upsides to the idea: If the federal government lost access to California’s 39-million-person tax base, it would presumably grow uncomfortable.

And California, in particular, is a dangerous state to lose. California is a top crop producer; there’s Hollywood, there’s plenty of marijuana, there’s a massive tourism industry....MORE 
Roger that, the ole "You'll miss us when we're gone" pitch, over.

Who gets the Bitly, Borklys in the divorce?
And the stoned tourists lost in Hollywood?

See also:
Venture Capitalist Tim Draper Wants To Split California Into Pieces And Turn Silicon Valley Into Its Own State
Guy Who Wanted To Split California In Six Pieces Launches Contest To Keep It Together