Who’s To Blame for the Silicon Valley Bank Mess? The Internet Investigates

Lon Harris
Lon Harris is a contributor to dot.LA. His work has also appeared on ScreenJunkies, RottenTomatoes and Inside Streaming.
Who’s To Blame for the Silicon Valley Bank Mess? The Internet Investigates
Evan Xie

This is the web version of dot.LA’s daily newsletter. Sign up to get the latest news on Southern California’s tech, startup and venture capital scene.

Since the collapse of SVB, federal regulators have guaranteed that SVB depositors won’t suffer any losses. For now, it seems the immediate threat of contagion has passed, as regional bank stocks started to rebound following a Monday sell-off. As Silicon Valley Bank announced its new name, Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, and FDIC-appointed president Tim Mayopoulos urged former customers to consider returning with at least some of their funds, the media and technology pundits have started to refocus their attention elsewhere.

There’s naturally a whole active debate about whether or not the federal government’s intervention in SVB technically meets the definition of a “bailout.” But the real post-SVB fallout discussion, at least so far, has pivoted to, who specifically is to blame for SVB’s downfall? A number of potential suspects have been identified and held up for scorn and ridicule.


Suspect #1: The Bank Itself

Many fingers are pointing back to SVB itself and the bank’s core business model. By design, the bank served corporate deposits as opposed to retail customers. With more of its total deposits in the hands of fewer customers – and with many of those customers listening to the same venture capitalists, thought-leaders and prominent investors – it’s easier to trigger a run than at a more conventional bank. One former SVB employee, speaking anonymously with CNN, theorized that the bank’s public acknowledgment of its dire financial situation, prior to having a solid strategy to save deposits, was the killing blow.

The bank’s strategy proved particularly risky in the current economic landscape. A post-pandemic startup boom left SVB flush with cash; with deposits up 86% in 2021, it was bringing in money faster than it could lend it out. Their solution was to put the bulk of the funds into Treasuries and 30-year mortgages. Now in 2023, with interest rates at a 15-year high in an effort to tamp down inflation, and venture capital drying up amid recession fears, deposits fell just as SVB’s assets also tumbled in value. This dire combination then led to panic among investors.

Famed investor Michael Burry – he’s the guy played by Christian Bale in “The Big Short” – blasted SVB on Sunday for taking “stupid risks” based on “hubris and greed.” The bank has already been hit by a shareholder securities-fraud lawsuit, accusing management of failing to warn customers about its risky business model.

Suspect #2: The Government

And though President Biden noted in his remarks that the bank’s management will lose their jobs, Democrats have perhaps unsurprisingly singled out former President Trump as the chief culprit. Many on the left are pointing to Trump’s deregulation of the banking industry that was lobbied for, in large part, by former SVB CEO Becker. The former president, backed by Republican majorities in Congress (along with several aisle-jumping Dems), passed a new law in 2018 allowing mid-sized banks like SVB to avoid some of the regulations that were put in place following the ‘08 financial crisis. Had this law not passed, SVB would have been subjected to stricter oversight and more regulations that might have slowed or prevented its implosion. Biden called on Congress to strengthen the banking regulations and roll back some of the 2018 changes to the law.

Despite the regulatory rollback, other pundits and officials are nonetheless still blaming federal regulators and noting that there was ample time to alert the public to the dangers of SVB’s investment plans. Former Treasury official and economist Aaron Klein explained on “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the Fed had given SVB “a clean bill of health,” failing to protect their customers.

Suspect #3: Crypto

But these accusations are really just the beginning of the finger-pointing, as just about every stakeholder in tech, the media, and the economy sound off this week about who they think is to blame. Crypto advocates blamed inherent flaws in centralized banking and fiat currency more generally, while others pointed to the collapse of the crypto market and the FTX exchange as setting the stage for the SVB crisis.

Suspect #4: The Media

Reporters were accused of overhyping the story, or getting caught up in predictions about what might happen rather than “sticking to the facts.” Social media also took some abuse in the aftermath of SVB’s fall. Twitter wasn’t yet a concern during the last financial crisis; the argument goes that panicky all-caps tweets helped to set the stage for a physical bank run in the real world.

Suspect #5: Wokeness

Meanwhile, right-wing firebrands and Wall Street Journal columnists went after their favorite scapegoats: Obama and the abstract concept of “wokeness.” In WSJ, Andy Kessler cited a 2022 proxy statement from SVB noting that its board was made up of 45% women, along with two veterans and members of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, arguing that the bank was apparently “distracted by diversity demands.” On his Fox News show, Carlson blamed the Obama administration, which made bank management “increasingly incompetent” by imposing “diversity, equity and inclusion standards” on the financial industry.

Suspect #6: Venture Capital

According to Business Insider, some venture capitalists are even blaming one another for stoking the fears that ultimately led to SVB’s collapse. Upfront Ventures managing partner Mark Suster compared feverish VC and investor tweets warning about trouble last week to the classic example of patrons shouting “fire” in a movie theater. Others disagreed; as one VC firm leader told Forbes, “you don’t blame the customer for taking money out of the bank.”

Obviously, identifying the key issues that led to the SVB collapse matters, as it helps everyone to avoid the same pitfalls next time with the next bank. Still, the next few steps seem relatively clear: protect SVB depositors in the short-term, restore some of the post-2008 crisis regulations that might’ve helped prevent a full-blown crisis, and maybe exercise a bit more caution before tweeting that the levees have broken and it’s time to head for high ground. With that in mind, it’s hard not to see at least some of the finger-pointing not as constructive criticism but everyone’s favorite form of emergency PR: crisis management. What we potentially have here is a large group of people who feel implicated, and thus want to suggest that the problems all started with someone, anyone, else.

Subscribe to our newsletter to catch every headline.

⚖️FTC’s "Click to Cancel" Rule and Its Ripple Effect on Tech

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles,

The FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule is shaking up subscription-based tech. Now, instead of navigating a maze of cancellation hurdles, users can cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up—with a single click. This shift is a wake-up call for SaaS, streaming, and app-based companies, where once-hidden exit options often kept users around simply because canceling was a hassle.

The rule also requires businesses to send regular renewal reminders, ensuring customers stay informed about upcoming charges. It's more than a cancellation button—it’s about transparency and giving users control over their decisions.

For startups, the impact goes deeper than UX adjustments. Many have relied on "dark patterns," which subtly discourage cancellations by hiding the exit. Now, companies must shift toward building genuine loyalty by delivering real value, not by complicating exits.

While this might affect retention rates initially, it could lead to more sustainable business models that rely on satisfaction-driven loyalty. Investors may start prioritizing companies that emphasize transparent, long-term engagement over those that depend on dark patterns to maintain retention metrics.

The rule opens the door to more ethical UX design and a truly user-centered approach across the tech industry. It may even set a precedent against manipulative design in other areas, such as privacy settings or payment methods.

Ultimately, the “Click to Cancel” rule presents an opportunity for the tech industry to foster trust and build stronger customer relationships. Startups and established companies that embrace transparency will likely stand out as leaders in a new era of customer-centric tech, where trust—not tricky design—is what retains users.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, LA Tech Week 2024 offers a chance to explore these shifts in real-time. Check out the upcoming event lineups to stay informed and make the most of your time:

For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Ghost, a company supporting top brands and retailers with streamlined logistics and fulfillment solutions, raised a $40M Series C funding round led by L Catterton to fuel its continued growth and innovation. - learn more

LA Venture Funds
  • Assembly Ventures participated in a $27M Series A round for Monogoto, a provider of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable secure, cloud-based IoT and cellular network management on a global scale. - learn more
  • Angeleno Group participated in a $32M Series C round for REsurety, a company that recently launched an innovative clean energy marketplace aimed at providing better financial and operational insights to support renewable energy transactions. - learn more

    Download the dot.LA App

    🌴🧑‍💻 Your Guide to LA Tech Week 2024

    🔦 Spotlight

    Happy Friday Los Angeles,

    As many of you know, LA Tech Week is right around the corner, kicking off next Monday October 14th bringing together founders, creatives, investors, and engineers for a week of immersive events, panels, and socials across the city. From blockchain and AI to biotech and design, LA Tech Week is a chance to dive into the ideas shaping today’s technology landscape.


    What to Look Forward To

    Insights from Visionary Leaders: Hear firsthand from industry trailblazers as they share stories, challenges, and key lessons from their experiences. Expect fresh perspectives on AI, venture capital, biotech, and the ethical questions around emerging technologies.

    Interactive Panels: This week isn’t about watching from the sidelines; it’s about engaging directly with the tech community. Participate in hands-on panels discussing everything from startup scaling to ethical AI, with honest insights from those actively shaping these fields.

    Networking Mixers & Social Events: Meet and connect with founders, VCs, developers, designers, and fellow techies across LA. Rooftop mixers, lunch meetups, and creative gatherings offer the perfect chance to spark ideas and collaborate.

    Plan your week with the daily lineup, organized by location for easy navigation:

    For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

    Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!!


    🤝 Venture Deals

    LA Companies

    • Clout Kitchen, a Los Angeles and Manila based startup, has raised $4.45M in seed funding, co-led by a16z SPEEDRUN and Peak XV’s Surge, to develop AI-powered digital twins, which enables gaming creators to produce realistic virtual avatars for content and fan engagement. - learn more
    • MeWe, a privacy-focused social media platform, has raised an initial $6M in Series B funding led by McCourt Global to support Web3 integration and expand its decentralized network for 20 millions users. - learn more

      LA Venture Funds
      • EGB Capital participated in a $10M Series A funding round for MiLaboratories, which develops software that enables biologists to independently analyze complex genomic data, accelerating research and discovery in fields like drug development. - learn more
      • Crosscut Ventures participated in the $13.75M seed round for Airloom Energy, a company focused on developing airborne wind energy technology to harness high-altitude winds, with plans to accelerate a pilot project in Wyoming. - learn more
      • Overture VC participated in a $5.5M Seed funding round for Molg Inc., a company developing robotics and software for circular manufacturing, designed to disassemble electronics efficiently and recover valuable materials to reduce e-waste and support sustainable production. - learn more


        LA Exits

        • Options MD, a Los Angeles based telemedicine platform that provides care for people suffering from severe and treatment-resistant mental illness, is set to be acquired by Resilience Lab, an AI-driven provider focused on enhancing mental health care access. - learn more

        Download the dot.LA App

        LA Tech Week 2024: Saturday-Sunday Event Lineup
        tech-week

        Here’s what’s happening during the closing weekend (Oct 19 - Oct 20) of LA Tech Week 2024! Events are organized by location so you can easily catch the sessions that interest you most.

        SATURDAY EVENTS

        BEVERLY HILLS

        12:00 PM

        • BIG Showcase (Invite Only):

        BIG Showcase (Invite Only)

        2:00 PM

        Light Dao

        Struck Capital, Seahorse Express

        EAGLE ROCK

        12:00 PM

        Sunrise Integration, Shopify

        EL SEGUNDO

        9:00 PM

        Administratum, Valar Atomics

        HOLLYWOOD

        10:00 AM

        Passes

        MALIBU

        6:00 PM

        • Malibu Beachfront Investors Networking & Wine Tasting:See Details

        Gaya Ventures

        MARINA DEL RAY

        6:00 PM

        • Awaken Your Spirit: A Journey of Transformation (Invite Only)

        Sagos Distro, Alma Wellness

        SANTA MONICA

        7:00 AM

        Founders Running Club

        8:30 AM

        Techstars

        9:00 AM

        Magic Mind

        StartupStarter, Inc., City of Santa Monica

        10:00 AM

        Gen She

        AI LA

        Crea, Barry's, Unsubscribe

        10:30 AM

        Plantologist

        11:30 AM

        • Pickleball Palooza (Invite Only)

        YouTube

        1:00 PM

        • Realfren Games: From strangers to an inner Realfren within 52 weekends: See Details

        Office for Humanity and Circuit Works

        • Talking blockchain technology with special guests: See Details

        LadyDayDao

        5:00 PM

        KARD, What's Plots

        THE VALLEY

        7:00 AM

        Camino5

        VENICE

        9:00 AM

        Westside Yogis

        11:00 AM

        Open App

        1:00 PM

        Ripe and Teddy's Hot House

        4:00 PM

        • Fashion Forward: How AI is Redefining the Fashion Industry: See Details

        VIAVIA, BNTO.RENT, ALMA.AI

        VIRTUAL

        11:00 AM

        BLCK UNICRN

        WEST HOLLYWOOD

        7:00 PM

        Next Sequence

        SUNDAY EVENTS

        INGLEWOOD

        12:00 PM

        Entrepreneur Ventures, VCPE GROUPS

        PLAYA DEL RAY

        2:00 PM

        AI LA, DELL, NVIDIA

        SANTA MONICA

        10:00 AM

        • Women Founders, Cold Brew & Beach View, Rooftop: See Details

        Clutch Talent

        11:00 AM

        11DollarSunglasses.com, Less Litter Foundation

        12:00 PM

        Data in LA, Amplitude

        12:30 AM

        New Moon, Warner UK Innovations

        TOPANGA CANYON

        3:00 PM

        Dreamore

        VENICE

        8:00 AM

        • Surf session with founders, investors, creators: See Details

        Surfed Club, Bow Shock

        12:00 PM

        • Podcast Panel and Brunch: LA Tech Community Builders: See Details

        WeAreLATech.com, Blankspaces.com

        VIRTUAL

        2:00 PM

        BLCK UNICRN


        For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

        Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!


        Download the dot.LA App

        RELATEDEDITOR'S PICKS
        LA TECH JOBS
        interchangeLA
        Trending