How many of these startups actually change the world though?

It seems more and more like "The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads."

Well, I'd say two things:

1. A lot of them are changing the world in small ways and some in big ways. And, some are just getting started and it is going to take another 10 years to see their impact. We like big narratives of x changed the world but I think it is more likely change by a thousand cuts.

2. Ads get a lot of attention but I'd say that is also hugely important to change the world. Adwords is amazing in that it is has democratized advertising significantly. Now small businesses can go buy ads without any contracts huge spend or so on. I know for me 10+ years ago it was a game-changer for getting one of my first businesses off the ground.

I think Facebook has clearly changed the world. I don't think we really know if it's for better or worse overall, though.

I can't really come up with other examples, though (although my gut tells me that's due to poor memory). I don't think Airbnb or RC classes qualify.

Totally agree on FB :), might not find out for another 10 to 20 years.

I think AirBNB does big time, huge amount of income for a lot of low to medium income earners. Enough to build wealth, put a kid through college, or pay the morgage. And, on the flip side it has enabled millions of people to travel and exp other cultures/places in a new and more intimate way. I've personally live out of AirBNBs in other countries for multiple years.

I think this bar to world changing is way too high, little changes can make big impacts over long periods. Especially on cultural values.

Regarding AirBNB -- you may be right, but I'm not so certain. It appears to me that the amount of impact it has depends a great deal on where you are. In my area, AirBNB isn't a significant factor at all -- but in a city a couple hundred miles away from here, it's had a significant impact. Facebook's impact is obvious to pretty much everyone, everywhere. AirBNB? Not so much. Which is not to say it's had no impact...

> I think this bar to world changing is way too high, little changes can make big impacts over long periods. Especially on cultural values.

I agree entirely with this.

I stayed in a cheap Airbnb for an SF Bay Area internship. I met a lot of interesting people and made a lot of interesting connections. I would recommend it