Tech boss attacks 'whiners' in angry email By Zoe Kleinman

Technology reporter, BBC News Published duration 10 July 2017

image copyright Shutterstock image caption Jonathan Teo co-founded Binary Capital in 2014.

The co-founder of a Silicon Valley investment firm said it is "not my job to make you all feel good" in a long email to staff and investors.

Jonathan Teo from Binary Capital was responding to negative press coverage about the firm following allegations of sexual harassment by his co-founder Justin Caldbeck.

He added that he was "tired and indignant", and raged against "whiners" who demanded his attention.

Mr Teo has already offered to resign.

He did so after Mr Caldbeck left the firm in June.

"I'm incredibly sorry," Mr Caldbeck tweeted when the news broke last month.

Mr Caldbeck's actions were one of several sexism scandals to rock Silicon Valley in recent months.

They include a damning report into the work culture inside ride-hailing firm Uber, and the resignation of venture capitalist Dave McClure, who admitted "inexcusable behaviour" towards "multiple women".

image copyright YouTube image caption Justin Caldbeck said he was "incredibly sorry" over harassment claims

'Moronic'

No allegations have been made against Jonathan Teo, who said he had offered to step down in order to "quell a news cycle".

He blamed leaks to a "corrupted" media about investors feeling nervous about his firm and claimed his resignation offer had not yet been accepted.

Mr Teo also said he was "angry that women had felt hurt", but described a suggestion by one of the firm's portfolio companies that the next partner should be a woman as "moronic".

"We must choose the best person, male or female," he wrote in the email, which the BBC has confirmed to be genuine.

"Talent is universal if we only choose to recognize it. Anything else is again grandstanding for a personal agenda."

Mr Teo also added that reports suggesting investors were trying to buy back shares were untrue, and said that it was "dishonourable" for an entrepreneur to back away "at the first sign of trouble".

'Entitled'

Only one firm has so far announced its intention to pull away from Binary Capital.

Silicon Valley is full of "entitled human beings", Mr Teo continued.

"As for the people here that whine that they aren't taken care of, who have not to worry about their lives being taken from them or their basic needs met, who owes them more than the voice they already have access to?" he wrote.

The email was first published by the website Axios

Journalist Erin Griffith described the email as "unapologetic" on the Fortune website

"It is angry and, in parts, barely coherent," she said.

'Jerry Maguire moment'

Silicon Valley entrepreneur and journalist Mike Malone said the email was "a Jerry Maguire moment" for Mr Teo.

"He's having a very bad day," he said.

"He says he'll resign, then turns around and says it's not his fault at all, that everyone is conspiring against him including the media.

"If you were teaching PR 101 this guy has just done everything possible wrong. He has insulted clients, he has insulted investors, he has insulted employees and he has insulted the media.

"This is a venture capital fund and venture capitalists live and die by the amount of money they can raise for their next fund."

Jonathan Teo told the BBC he didn't want to comment at this time.