Elevate with Robert Glazer Elevate Classics: Why Kleiner Perkins VC Dave Whorton Threw Out The Silicon Valley Playbook
Dec 18, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dave Whorton shares his journey as a tech investor and founder, having spent years at Kleiner Perkins. He critiques Silicon Valley's quick-growth mentality and emphasizes the importance of sustainable, evergreen businesses. Whorton discusses his experiences incubating drugstore.com, the challenges of leadership succession, and his mission with the Tugboat Institute to support long-lasting companies. He also reflects on lessons from his early sales in Amazon and Google, highlighting a focus on quality over rapid profits.
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Turning Down John Doerr Twice
- Dave Whorton turned down a summer internship offer from John Doerr, thinking he'd rather be at Netscape.
- Doerr later offered to incubate Dave's startup at Kleiner while he worked there, which Dave accepted.
Not Every Startup Needs Venture Capital
- The Silicon Valley 'get big fast' model isn't right for every founder or company.
- Evergreen companies aim for sustainable, long-term value without chasing venture capital exits.
Build A Peer Community
- Convene peers who share your values to exchange candid lessons and mutual support.
- Dave started the Tugboat gathering to serve evergreen CEOs and build a community of like-minded leaders.