I don&#x27;t like the example of exxon, but I&#x27;ll do my best.  So let&#x27;s say, I don&#x27;t know, some startup figures out cheaper solar (so in the energy sector, like exxon in a broad sense).  They&#x27;re not going to raise money easily or at all in my personal opinion and experience, and would do very well to get government assistance for their innovations, this being their only source of viable funding.  Anybody who doesn&#x27;t want to fund alternatives to the SV &quot;social network for X&quot; or &quot;Uber for Y&quot; is not just metaphorically &quot;part of the problem&quot; but in fact the definition of the &#x27;problem&#x27;: the &#x27;problem&#x27; is that nobody wants to invest in these startups in these other sectors.<p>Not in some metaphorical way.  You, xyzzy4, and all 8 of my downvoters across my couple of comments here would consider investing in a silicon valley social network but would never consider investing in the above.  Just won&#x27;t happen.<p>if you want this to change you have to take out your pocketbook and start writing checks.  that simple.  it&#x27;s like complaining that mcdonald&#x27;s doesn&#x27;t sell vegan hamburgers while buying 7 big macs a week.  they don&#x27;t sell vegan hamburgers because people buy big macs but they don&#x27;t not buy vegan big macs and then complain to mcdonald&#x27;s then they can&#x27;t - and anybody that tried to open a vegan fast food hamburger joint competing with BK, McDonald&#x27;s, and Wendie&#x27;s would find that people do not show up, do not take out their cash, and buy a vegan big mac.<p>It is what it is!  Fast food restaurants don&#x27;t sell vegan hamburgers because people don&#x27;t buy vegan hamburgers, and startups don&#x27;t operate outside &quot;social network for X&quot; or &quot;Uber for Y&quot; echo chamber because investors - specifically <i>you</i>, whatever reader you are - don&#x27;t invest in these things.  if you want this to change, take out your pocketbook and write a check.