Read on Twitter
Let me summarize this thread: two while hedge fund workers/former jocks quit their jobs bc they wanted to “have an adventure” and “build a city,” and decided Nigeria, where they knew no one and had zero connections, was the place.
And this story has ZERO irony or self-awareness https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597835026362369
And this story has ZERO irony or self-awareness https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597835026362369
He wanted an adventure on a continent with no prior connections, but WAS ASLO still worried about being kidnapped 
https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597856488521728?s=21 https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597856488521728
https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597856488521728?s=21 https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597856488521728
The charter city project (now relocate to Ghana) the two white Boys are gonna spearhead is financed by yet another white boy.
This isn’t community planning, it’s product development.
https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597861379121153?s=21 https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597861379121153
This isn’t community planning, it’s product development.
https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597861379121153?s=21 https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308597861379121153
Talks of financing and raises, creating tons of stakeholders who mostly aren’t even from the continent, let alone the country, just doesn’t sit comfortably in my spirit.
It’s also bothering me they @drydenwtbrown is REALLY enthused to talk about pitches and contacts and raises with not a tweet yet about why this “next great city” will be great for the country. Or who he’s talking to locally about actually city planning, not just *permissions*
That’s exactly the kind of story I expect from (takes breath) a 20-something, hedge-funder, former surfer who goes his full 4 names because two of them are family names going back to his grandfather, and who call himself a hero-futurist.
It’s all WASP everything with this kid.
It’s all WASP everything with this kid.
Also, DWTB graduated in like 18, which makes this whole shit even more offensive.
The location and the comment... I just..
So I googled this young man (in case you couldn’t tell) and found almost nothing on him but he has quite a family pedigree going back to parental grandfather, but even his mother has a master’s in international affairs from Columbia and was a global banker for American Express...
... and this dude decided to just found a city two years out of school - WAIT, ONE year out of school (bc they decided last year) with less than a year of work experience.
She must be proud
She must be proud
And when Africa fell through these hero futurists said “ALASKA!!” So... they’re scrolling an atlas.
Ok... I think I’m getting a picture of young Dryden.
His grandfather was a Yale grad who co-founded one of the most exclusive (and expensive) private schools in the city, and was this major philanthropist. His dad and aunt are *heavy* on donor and philanthropic set...
His grandfather was a Yale grad who co-founded one of the most exclusive (and expensive) private schools in the city, and was this major philanthropist. His dad and aunt are *heavy* on donor and philanthropic set...
...I mean gala and board chairs out the wazoo. I mentioned his mom. His step-mom has a PHD & MA from Stanford and her BA from Harvard and IRONICALLY wrote a book about the exact opposite of what Dryden is attempting.
I think he’s trying to make his name/impress his family.
I think he’s trying to make his name/impress his family.
Still migueded AF. Which is likely why they weren’t funding his caper.
This is gonna make a great Netflix doc and/or movie next year, though
The fact that I can find details on his whole family but can’t even find out what school Dryden went to (I’m done with my research jaunt, BTW) suggests he’s likely the over privledged underachiever now trying to prove something.
But we don’t have to give Dryden all the heat - the people funding him are here:
https://twitter.com/pronomosvc/status/1308605678425055232?s=21 https://twitter.com/pronomosvc/status/1308605678425055232
https://twitter.com/pronomosvc/status/1308605678425055232?s=21 https://twitter.com/pronomosvc/status/1308605678425055232
Oh... Young DWTB apparently has SO much more experience than I gave him credit for
(That “city research” sounds like a maybe a class or two in urban planning)
https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308921215801847809?s=21 https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308921215801847809
(That “city research” sounds like a maybe a class or two in urban planning)
https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308921215801847809?s=21 https://twitter.com/drydenwtbrown/status/1308921215801847809
Ok, my last tweet because now I’m down a rabbit hole for the VC.
Charter cities are SUPPOSED to be about creating new systems and models that benefit the citizens. And if DWTB’s tweets reflected that - well it still would have felt white saviorish but a little less Fyre Fest
Charter cities are SUPPOSED to be about creating new systems and models that benefit the citizens. And if DWTB’s tweets reflected that - well it still would have felt white saviorish but a little less Fyre Fest
Ok THIS is the last tweet: of course this is the VC founder. It’s like central casting.
