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- College dropout’ has become the most coveted startup founder credential
College dropout’ has become the most coveted startup founder credential
Plus: Investors predict AI is coming for labor in 2026

Today's Newsletter Highlights:
College dropout’ has become the most coveted startup founder credential
Investors predict AI is coming for labor in 2026
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College dropout’ has become the most coveted startup founder credential

Many well-known tech founders, like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, dropped out of college. However, most successful startup founders have bachelor’s or graduate degrees. Still, being a dropout is trending as a “signal” in the current AI-startup boom. Founders often highlight this during pitches, especially at accelerators like Y Combinator.
📈 Key points:
Many founders now show off their dropout status at pitch sessions. It serves as a badge of boldness and commitment to building something big.
Some aspiring founders feel that staying in school could make them miss the AI build cycle. So, they're opting out to start companies sooner.
Investor views vary. Some VCs think dropout status matters less if a founder is near completing their degree. The networking and brand value of college still matter. Some believe that experience and "wisdom" often grow with age. They think these factors predict success better than a dropout label.
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Investors predict AI is coming for labor in 2026

A TechCrunch survey of enterprise investors focused on AI spending trends. Many VCs and startup backers believe AI will greatly impact the labour market in 2026. This belief emerged even though the survey didn’t specifically ask about jobs.
📊 What Investors Are Saying
🔄 Automation beyond augmentation: Some investors think AI will move beyond just boosting productivity. They believe this will bring true automation, especially for repetitive and logical tasks. This shift could change how jobs are done and affect employment levels. Automation is taking over certain tasks.
📉 Labour budgets shifting to AI: Some VCs say companies will shift parts of their labour budgets to AI tech. This means less spending on staff and more on automation tools. As a result, layoffs may increase or hiring may slow in some areas.
💬 Layoffs and AI: Some people argue that companies blame AI for job cuts, even when other reasons exist. This makes AI a convenient reason for workforce reductions, no matter what the real reason is.
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