Yes, I think the real reason why VCs don't like meeting people outside of their networks is that it makes them uncomfortable.
Meeting new people all the time is exhausting and destabilizing.
People like consistency and a feeling that the world is a small place full of familiar faces.
I think that the herd mentality makes sense for small VCs who don't really know what they're doing and don't have any vision but it's disappointing to see it in these big guys too. They are the trendsetters after all.
That mentality is exactly why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Also it is sacrificing technology/innovation for sales/marketing/networking.
I think you misunderstand what is meant by networks.
VCs constantly meet new people but generally it's people recommended by their current network or sourced by outbound research rather than people who cold email.
Meeting new people all the time is exhausting and destabilizing.
People like consistency and a feeling that the world is a small place full of familiar faces.
I think that the herd mentality makes sense for small VCs who don't really know what they're doing and don't have any vision but it's disappointing to see it in these big guys too. They are the trendsetters after all.
That mentality is exactly why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Also it is sacrificing technology/innovation for sales/marketing/networking.