Summary Pronomos Capital’s New VC Idea: Colonies of Tech Bros www.thedailybeast.com
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Pronomos Capital, a VC firm, secured $13M from investors like Thiel and Andreessen to develop private cities for experimentation, which critics argue is colonialism while founders perceive it as philanthropy.
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Slide Presentation (9 slides)
Key Points
- Pronomos Capital is a venture capital firm that aims to build privately owned and operated cities in developing countries.
- The firm has raised over $13 million from investors like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen.
- The founder of Pronomos Capital, Patri Friedman, holds extreme libertarian views and previously founded the Seasteading Institute.
- Startup cities funded by Pronomos Capital have attracted controversy and criticism, with concerns about colonialism and the commodification of governance.
- Projects like Próspera in Honduras and Itana in Nigeria have faced backlash from local communities.
Summaries
28 word summary
Pronomos Capital, a VC firm, raised $13M from investors like Thiel and Andreessen to build private cities for experimentation. Critics call it colonialism, founders see it as philanthropy.
54 word summary
Pronomos Capital, a VC firm, has raised $13M from investors like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen. They aim to build private cities in developing countries for experimentation, free from regulations. Critics say it's colonialism driven by tech elites. Founders view it as philanthropic, aiming to alleviate poverty. Feasibility is doubted, but founders are committed.
154 word summary
Pronomos Capital, a venture capital firm founded in 2019, has raised over $13 million from investors including Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen. The firm's mission is to build privately owned and operated cities in developing countries where investors can experiment with new forms of business, government, and medical treatments without burdensome regulations. However, these projects have attracted controversy and criticism. Critics argue that they are colonial in nature and driven by tech elites who want to escape government regulation and create their own exclusive communities. The founders of Pronomos Capital, on the other hand, view their work as philanthropic and believe that startup cities can alleviate global poverty and improve the lives of local populations. Despite the ambitious goals, there are doubts about the feasibility and success of these projects. Critics argue that they lack the ability to make them work. However, the founders remain committed to their vision of creating a venture-backed city-state.
466 word summary
Pronomos Capital, a venture capital firm founded in 2019, has raised over $13 million from investors including Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen. The firm's mission is to build privately owned and operated cities in developing countries where investors can experiment with new forms of business, government, and medical treatments without burdensome regulations. Patri Friedman, the founder of Pronomos Capital, is the grandson of economist Milton Friedman and holds extreme libertarian views. He previously founded the Seasteading Institute, which aimed to create independent nations on the ocean but failed to gain traction. Friedman's latest venture focuses on startup cities and their potential to reshape governance.
Startup cities funded by Pronomos Capital have attracted controversy and criticism. Critics argue that these projects are colonial in nature and driven by tech elites who want to escape government regulation and create their own exclusive communities. The founders of Pronomos Capital, however, view their work as philanthropic and believe that startup cities can alleviate global poverty and improve the lives of local populations.
One of Pronomos Capital's projects is Prospera, a startup city located in Honduras. Prospera operates within a special economic zone and offers a low tax rate and a private arbitration center. However, the development has faced backlash from local communities who fear displacement and loss of livelihoods.
Another project is Itana, a startup city in Nigeria's Lekki Free Trade Zone. Itana aims to become the Silicon Valley of Africa, attracting entrepreneurs with tax breaks and a favorable regulatory environment. However, concerns have been raised about the impact on local communities and the commodification of governance.
The concept of startup cities aligns with the ideas of neoreactionary philosophers Curtis Yarvin and Nick Land, who argue for less democratic forms of government and the ability to exit societies. Startup cities provide physical means for individuals to escape existing governments and experiment with new forms of governance. However, critics argue that these ideas lack an understanding of non-modified aspects of life, such as care and emotion, and the attachment to places and people.
Despite the ambitious goals of Pronomos Capital and its investors, there are doubts about the feasibility and success of startup cities. Critics argue that these projects are driven by incompetence and lack the ability to make them work. However, the founders remain committed to their vision of creating a venture-backed city-state.
In conclusion, Pronomos Capital's venture capital fund aims to fund the creation of startup cities in developing countries. These projects have attracted controversy and criticism, with concerns raised about displacement, exploitation, and the commodification of governance. The founders of Pronomos Capital view their work as philanthropic and believe that startup cities can alleviate global poverty and provide opportunities for experimentation with new forms of business and government. However, the feasibility and success of these projects remain uncertain.
482 word summary
Pronomos Capital, a venture capital firm founded in 2019, has raised over $13 million from investors including Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen. The firm's mission is to build privately owned and operated cities in developing countries where investors can experiment with new forms of business, government, and medical treatments without burdensome regulations. The ultimate goal is to unite these cities into an ideologically aligned, lightly governed, VC-backed state.
Patri Friedman, the founder of Pronomos Capital, is the grandson of economist Milton Friedman and holds extreme libertarian views. He previously founded the Seasteading Institute, which aimed to create independent nations on the ocean but failed to gain traction. Friedman's latest venture focuses on startup cities and their potential to reshape governance.
Startup cities funded by Pronomos Capital have attracted controversy and criticism. Critics argue that these projects are colonial in nature and driven by tech elites who want to escape government regulation and create their own exclusive communities. The founders of Pronomos Capital, however, view their work as philanthropic and believe that startup cities can alleviate global poverty and improve the lives of local populations.
One of Pronomos Capital's projects is Próspera, a startup city located in Honduras. Próspera operates within a special economic zone and offers a low tax rate and a private arbitration center. However, the development has faced backlash from local communities who fear displacement and loss of livelihoods.
Another project is Itana, a startup city in Nigeria's Lekki Free Trade Zone. Itana aims to become the Silicon Valley of Africa, attracting entrepreneurs with tax breaks and a favorable regulatory environment. However, concerns have been raised about the impact on local communities and the commodification of governance.
The concept of startup cities aligns with the ideas of neoreactionary philosophers Curtis Yarvin and Nick Land, who argue for less democratic forms of government and the ability to exit societies. Startup cities provide physical means for individuals to escape existing governments and experiment with new forms of governance. However, critics argue that these ideas lack an understanding of non-modified aspects of life, such as care and emotion, and the attachment to places and people.
Despite the ambitious goals of Pronomos Capital and its investors, there are doubts about the feasibility and success of startup cities. Critics argue that these projects are driven by incompetence and lack the ability to make them work. However, the founders remain committed to their vision of creating a venture-backed city-state.
In conclusion, Pronomos Capital's venture capital fund aims to fund the creation of startup cities in developing countries. These projects have attracted controversy and criticism, with concerns raised about displacement, exploitation, and the commodification of governance. The founders of Pronomos Capital view their work as philanthropic and believe that startup cities can alleviate global poverty and provide opportunities for experimentation with new forms of business and government. However, the feasibility and success of these projects remain uncertain.