Monk Mode in Silicon Valley: Why Young Founders Skip Dating to Build
A Business Insider Discourse piece finds that many young tech founders are prioritizing building startups over dating, adopting long hours and 'monk mode' to scale their companies. The opportunity cost of dating is high, and many relationships predate founding, yet the Bay Area’s dating scene—shaped by gender imbalances and mobility—contributes to fewer active romances among founders. Exceptions exist for queer daters and partners formed before or outside core startup work, and some use networking platforms like LinkedIn to connect. Overall, founders hope for future partnerships that support their ventures, but current culture tilts toward work over romance.
