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David Heinemeier Hansson

What David Heinemeier Hansson thinks about venture capital

@dhh · 154 positions · 10 changes of mind

Creator of Ruby on Rails, CTO of 37signals, and creator of Omarchy.

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2 dated positions, 2025 to 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what David Heinemeier Hansson has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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  1. Our readingVenture money ruins software: raise a fortune, hire hundreds, and crap comes out, because the funnel that forces hard choices is gone.

    Their wordsThis was one of the reasons why I was always so skeptical about venture capital when it came to software. Because I saw time and again people raise an enormous amount of money, hire hundreds of people, and produce crap software.

    ↗DHH: How to Build a Profitable Company Without Losing Controlyoutube.com 3rd of 15 in this recording

    startups

    Interesting
  2. 12 months earlier

  3. Our readingThe way to stay small is never to take other people's money: the moment you do, they want the largest return, and the enterprise playbook follows.

    Their wordsBecause the problem isn't just venture capital, it's other people's money. Once you take other people's money, completely understandably, they want a return and they would prefer to have the largest return possible.

    ↗DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, Productivity & Parenting | Lex Fridman Podcast #474youtube.com 22nd of 36 in this recording

    startups

    Interesting