startups and tech in general went from weird/low status/counterculture to hype/high status/culture in the span of 2 decades. with that change comes: a game with well-defined rules, set vibe and a sort of ideological orthodoxy that both opens the gates for normies to yeet themselves at to try and climb to the top and get that status; but also a total incompatibility with innovation as the actual outcome that creates new value. 

you sort of have to be an outcast in some sense and live life in a sufficiently unique way to find the new value everyone else is looking past. but everyone who is starting companies "for the vibe" can't bear to do much more than mimic others getting more likes on TikTok.