A successful startup allows others to claim that they’re “Uber for pets” which encourages VC money - but if there are famous explosions in the ears all of a sudden you have to explain why you’re not “Wework for chips” which makes it harder to get funding started.

When a gold rush is on nobody gets yelled at for buying shovels even if they lose money. But going against “conventional wisdom” requires either entirely independent VC or investors who really trust you.