Status Update
We are in the middle of week #4 of a lock-down in the Bay Area and the first glimmer of a new, adjusted work routine is emerging. At the time they were announced on March 16, the draconian “shelter-in-place” restrictions felt like an over-reaction to an imagined worst-case scenario. But now we can appreciate the wisdom and professionalism of our local staff at the County Health Department as well as the California state government. That is a real confidence builder.
During the first two weeks of this crisis, Silicon Valley’s role in helping to resolve it seemed largely irrelevant. Some startups fueled the panic after reading a memo from their investors, immediately laying off employees to conserve cash. For most of these startups with plenty of runway, and the (now-realized) promise of federal funding help on the way, what kind of message does that send to your “team”?
But during week #3, I saw the Silicon Valley machine cranking back up. Sand Hill Angels, where I am a member, is closing deals as usual, though of course our interests are shifting a bit. Meetings and conferences are converting to an online format, including Stanford University, which just completed a day-long virtual conference on COVID-19 and AI. And at least a portion of the economic effects of our life-saving social distancing policies are being mitigated by the technology stack developed in San Jose by Zoom Video Communications. In mid-March, all the startups at the German Accelerator in Silicon Valley (where I am a Lead Mentor) scrambled to find flights home. Now, the program is up and running on Zoom; in fact, it is expanding with more startups being able to participate now that there are no travel commitments necessary.
This past week’s developments led me to think about what the Silicon Valley will look like in the post-COVID19 era. It might be a little too early to do this, since the peak of the virus is not expected to hit here for another 3-4 weeks. But I am beginning to see faint signs that the valley may revert to its state circa-2009, and that may not be an altogether bad thing. More on that here: https://hill88.com/blog/2020/4/8/the-state-of-innovation-in-silicon-valley-2021
In the meantime, to use an overused phrase, “stay healthy”. I think a better way to put it is that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your extended family.
Don’t forget: This too shall pass.