One thing I like about the LA startup ecosystem is the diversity of founders you get to meet, including many “street smart” entrepreneurs.
These founders may not have gone to Stanford or Berkeley. They might not have read many YC articles on product/market fit, or talk in terms of CAC/LTV or ARR/NRR. But they have an instinctive ability to spot the next market trend and know how to build repeat revenue and turn a profit.
They may not interact with AI and machines all the time, but they’re relationship driven and interact with other humans a lot. A successful fashion e-commerce founder I know didn’t have any background in fashion, but he was friends with someone in LA’s traditional garment industry and learned about the traditional industry’s pain points, and was able to build a successful e-commerce business based on those learnings.
I’m not saying street smarts always beat book smarts. Many successful businesses are built by academically smart founders who invent technological innovations. But in a big city like LA, you realize how success can come from many different paths, not just tech, if the founder has savvy, relationships, and resourcefulness.