There is a new generation of startup founders. Enter: Gen-Z.

In May, I wrote an article entitled “Why You Can’t Raise VC Money.” My article examined the current Venture Capital landscape.

To support my thesis that VCs cared more about hype than profitability, I referenced founder Eric Zhu’s recent virality on Twitter. It seemed his social media following heavily contributed to his ability to close a $1m seed round for his company, Aviato.

Shortly after publishing my story, Eric reached out to me via LinkedIn. Several of his friends had forwarded the article to him, some of whom went so far as to dub it a “hit piece.” So we scheduled a Zoom call to discuss his reaction and trade perspectives.

The ensuing article, "A New Generation of Startup Founders," was published in Entrepreneur's Handbook in May of 2023.