Asger Risom
A prominent venture capitalist is urging tech workers to rethink what matters most in their careers.
A prominent venture capitalist is urging tech workers to rethink what matters most in their careers. Max Altman, cofounder of the $125 million Saga fund and brother of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, says the industry spent years romanticizing “mission” at the expense of execution — and is only now course-correcting.
Mission drift
Speaking on the “20VC” podcast, Altman argued that Silicon Valley once wrapped even the simplest products in lofty rhetoric. He recalled a pre-2020 era when startups insisted they were “saving the world,” even if they were offering on-demand dry cleaning or dog walking.
“I say, don’t care about the product. Don’t care about anything, just go work at the fastest-growing company,” he told host Harry Stebbings. “Winning feels great. It feels amazing.”
Altman said the sector “really lost our way for a little bit,” as founders and employees framed every business as a moral crusade rather than focusing on fundamentals. Before becoming an investor, he worked at Microsoft, Zenefits and Rippling, experiences that shaped his view of what sustainable growth actually requires.
Leaner priorities
Altman said the last two years have ushered in a reset. Instead of expansive visions and sprawling teams, companies are now embracing leaner operations, faster execution and a more sober approach to growth.
Across the industry, executive memos have shifted toward “efficiency” and “scrappiness,” echoing the internal assessments that Business Insider has documented. Many firms have stripped out layers of middle management, arguing that fewer hierarchies enable quicker decision-making.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan wrote in April that the size of a team would no longer be seen as a measure of leadership. “The best leaders get the most done with the fewest people,” he told employees.
Speed over symbolism
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy made similar arguments in 2024, saying the company should “operate like the world’s largest startup,” with urgency and frugality at the center of its culture. Last month, Amazon cut 14,000 corporate jobs, citing the rapid adoption of AI and the need to streamline further.
Altman said these shifts represent a return to what historically made the tech industry successful: prioritizing velocity and execution. For workers, he argued, the smartest move is to join companies growing fastest — not those offering the most stirring mission statements.
“Just go build a great business,” he said on the podcast. “Winning’s the most fun thing here.”
Sources: Business Insider, “20VC” podcast.
