Marvin Liao (Partner, 500 Startups) Silicon Valley is considered the center of Tech business with much to teach other ecosystems. Unfortunately, there are also many myths that are propagated by the ignorant, the media & neophytes that are harmful to startup founders. Marvin Liao is an ex-operator, presently an investor with over 470+ investments who tries to do some myth busting on what seems to be the common misconceptions being spread. The goal is to show what is reality of Silicon Valley.

1. Myths of Silicon Valley:
View from the Ground

2. Who Am I
• Partner, 500 Startups
• Mentor at 20 Startup
Accelerators in US/Europe/
Israel
• Board/Advisory Board
Member @ 8 companies
• 10.5 Year Ex-Yahoo!
Executive

3. Myth: Overnight Success
3

4. Truth: It takes A LONG TIME
4

5. Myth: Technology/ Product is
Everything
5

6. Truth: Markets & Distribution
6

7. Myth: Silicon Valley is the
Center of Tech
7

8. Truth: Tech is Pretty Distributed
8

9. Myth: Importance of Idea
9

10. Truth: Execution is What
Matters
10

11. Myth: Fundraising is Success
11

12. Truth: Fundraising Guarantees
Nothing
12

13.
“Silicon Valley is a
State of Mind”
Unknown or Attributed
to Reid Hoffman,
Linkedin