Molson Hart

- Increased cost of education, resulting in unbearable student debts which must be paid off before risks can be taken (@gsvigruha and @omeratah) Conversely, what's improved since the golden era of innovation? - Lower cost of company formation (software)

- Many dramatic examples of software successes (Mark Z) in media - Shark Tank is a celebration of entrepreneurial ideals and a recent invention - Greater acceptance of failure (i.e. Google's willingness to hire "failed" entrepreneurs) - Diversity and affirmative action programs

- Advent of accelerators (Y Combinator etc.) - Huge amounts of capital being pumped into the space from vc firms It's interesting. Lots of reasons to think that entrepreneurship should be increasing a lot.

This is anti-innovation and entrepreneurship, but has ambition become frowned upon? When I was a child I was super ambitious, but at some point I stopped talking about my ambitions, as it seemed uncool. It somehow became cool to be unambitious?

What about non-stop accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia etc. in our society? If you succeed, there's always someone else who can say "well, you're straight." or "you're white so of course..." or "men are privileged". I doubt this one, but with what plays in our media, maybe

it matters? That said, if that's going to stop you from innovating, starting a business, etc., you were never going to make it anyways.

more reasons why innovation/entrepreneurship may be falling - tyranny of the big company - aging populations (most innovations are done by young people), we're not making enough of those