Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Why "Evergreen Companies" Beat Venture Capital at Its Own Game with Dave Whorton
30 snips
Sep 3, 2025 
Dave Whorton, a former venture capitalist and founder of the Tugboat Institute, challenges the 'get big fast' mentality of Silicon Valley. He argues for the value of evergreen companies designed for longevity and purpose. With insights from his book 'Another Way', he shares the principles that enable businesses like See's Candies to thrive sustainably. Whorton also discusses how this approach applies beyond business, promoting a shift in values towards enduring success and meaningful legacies.
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Netscape Shifted The Startup Playbook
- Netscape's 1995 IPO changed Silicon Valley from profit-first to 'get big fast' mentality.
- That shift enabled power-law venture returns but normalized high-risk, capital‑intensive scaling.
Venture Capital Runs On Power Laws
- Venture returns follow a power-law: a tiny number of winners drive the fund's performance.
- That dynamic makes VCs accept many failures and hunt for 100x+ winners.
Choose Evergreen If You Value Longevity
- Consider building an evergreen company if your business can be profitable and sustainable over decades.
- Ask whether you want to run the business for your career instead of chasing VC exits.
