\n<\/p>\n
Slow Ventures hosted a three-hour \u201cEtiquette Finishing School\u201d this week, covering topics like the perfect handshake, public speaking, and office decorum. There was even a fashion show with models showing off different looks for different occasions, and then a closing lesson about caviar and wine.<\/p>\n
The San Francisco Standard reports<\/a> that a few hundred founders applied for the free program, held at the Four Seasons in SF\u2019s financial district, with 50 founders accepted. Most of the attendees were male.<\/p>\n Apparently the idea started as a joke, with Slow Ventures sussing out interest at Y Combinator\u2019s Demo Day. And while YC CEO Garry Tan reportedly told founders not to attend, Tan posted on X<\/a> that he has \u201cno beef with Slow Ventures,\u201d while writing, \u201cYou don\u2019t need finishing school. You need to build something great, make your users happy, and have craftsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n One unnamed founder told The Standard that they attended to learn how to be \u201cless feral.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTech is no longer playful and cute,\u201d Slow Ventures general partner Sam Lessin reportedly told the audience. \u201cIt\u2019s taking people\u2019s jobs and changing environments. Everyone\u2019s threatened by it, which means you need to be like, \u2018I\u2019m here and respectful,\u2019 as opposed to \u2018I\u2019m here and intentionally disrespectful.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n