Back to feeds

Day 4 of The Startup Mafia Series: The Hidden Power of Networks – Why Who You Know Matters More Than What You Know The world tells you that success comes from hard work and intelligence. But if that were true, why do the same people from the same networks keep winning? Why do Ivy League, IIT, and IIM founders keep launching billion-dollar companies? Why do YC startups get funded before they even prove themselves? Why do some founders raise millions with just an idea, while others struggle for years? The answer is simple: The startup world is a network-driven game. The Reality No One Talks About Every major startup ecosystem—Silicon Valley, Bangalore, London, Dubai—runs on insider circles. Investors fund who they know. Media covers who they trust. Founders succeed because they start with the right people. A second-tier founder with the right connections will always raise money before a genius outsider. How Networks Control the Game 1. Capital Moves in Closed Circles Big investors don’t scan the internet for new startups. They invest in founders introduced by people they already trust. 2. Success Signals Are Built, Not Earned Ever notice how certain startups get hyped before they even launch? That’s network-driven PR. 3. Top Talent Joins Founders They Already Respect The best engineers and executives don’t apply randomly—they join people they know or admire. This is why outsiders struggle. They’re playing the game without a network, without leverage, and without insider backing. The Uncomfortable Truth YC founders don’t just get funding—they get access to the startup elite. IIT/IIM grads don’t just get jobs—they get automatic trust from investors. Startup mafias don’t just build companies—they build entire ecosystems where only their people win. But if you’re not born into these circles, are you doomed? Not at all. There’s a way in. Tomorrow: Inside the Indian Startup Mafia – The Exclusive Circles That Control the Industry Follow Vishu Bheda. This is where things get real.