YC CEO Garry Tan Calls on Entrepreneurs to Take Pragmatic Action
Garry Tan emphasized "Don’t LARP / Be earnest," urging people not to pretend to be entrepreneurs but to genuinely engage in their work. The core of this statement is to oppose hollow posturing and encourage direct involvement in real problems and execution. In market mechanisms, it favors rewarding those who can deliver results rather than those who only narrate stories, package identities, or mimic entrepreneurial scenarios.
Source: Public Information
ABAB AI Insight
Garry Tan has always regarded "earnestness" as a core trait of founders. He has publicly stated that what he values most is not performative ambition, but sincerity, strong commitment, and a dedication to solving problems. The capital implication of this statement is that early-stage investment firms like YC are not screening for those who "look like entrepreneurs," but for those who can consistently deliver under pressure; hence, he dislikes LARPing, fundamentally opposing treating entrepreneurship as an identity performance. Analogously, this is akin to "cook or be cooked": the competition in the entrepreneurial circle is not about who tells the best story, but who can turn ideas into products, users, and code the fastest. Structurally, this reflects a technological replacement: AI makes disguise, empty talk, and low-cost packaging easier, thus what is truly scarce is verifiable execution and genuine output. ABAB News · Law of Cognition
- The more virtual the era, the more valuable earnestness becomes.
- Performance can attract attention, but delivery retains people.
- AI amplifies efficiency, but also amplifies authenticity and falsehood.