> Most of the apps we use on a dAily basis exist thanks to that model.
Don't count me in that 'we'; an app coming from a VC funded company is a red flag for me not to use that app. Any app that I've used from that category I've later come to regret. The last one was duolingo, and I now realise I was suckered there too.
There's only two on that list that I use and both on the desktop, not as an app. One that I regret signing up for and am in the process of moving away from; the other I use anonymously and would like to see displaced.
You don't use Google Maps? No LinkedIn? Stripe? Square? SpaceX? Tesla? Unity? Epic Games? Twilio? Docker? Elastic? Cloudflare? Android? YouTube?
Ok, it's fine if you don't use them...but to see no value in these companies at all? Come on - that's ridiculous and I suspect you know that but want to push a few buttons.
I see SpaceX and Tesla as different. They are engineering/manufacturing companies and have a legitimate need for venture capital to help meet the very heavy capex demands on such companies in their first 10 or so years. (I also wouldn't include Cloudflare).
What I don't like and would describe as unhealthy is the use of venture capital to massively scale software companies, usually in a 'free-service' model, until they have grown to monopolise the market and can then be 'monetised'. I think that is a very toxic model.
And no, I didn't mean to push buttons. I was only objecting to the assumption made in the original comment to which I replied. My viewpoint is far from unique, however much it may come as a surprise to you.
Don't count me in that 'we'; an app coming from a VC funded company is a red flag for me not to use that app. Any app that I've used from that category I've later come to regret. The last one was duolingo, and I now realise I was suckered there too.