John Doerr’s idealism was sincere and mostly admirable. He believed passionately that VC-fueled innovation was a force for good, which made cleantech irresistible. He was right that the Valley’s near exclusion of women represented wasted talent and was socially untenable. By throwing his energy behind cleantech and female advancement, he shoved history forward. A few cleantech investments worked out—Nest’s smart thermostats, for example—and the early failures helped to clear the way for the more successful second wave. Likewise, Doerr’s hiring of women ultimately worked out for the women, even
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