Many are in tech but we increasingly see artists and other disciplines. I fully acknowledge that are messaging for the event, and the promises we make (e.g. a serious conversation) bias who shows up.

But it's also likely there is considerable selection bias in Rao's sample and he should be cautious to generalize to all entrepreneurs. I recently re-read

McDonald's: Behind The Arches by John F. Love https://www.amazon.com/McDonalds-Behind-John-F-Love/dp/05533...

Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton with John Huey https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Walton-Made-America/dp/0385426151...

I was struck by how curious Walton and Kroc were about the competition and about how much they listened and incorporated feedback from store managers and suppliers into their business. The ideas that propelled expansion all came from others as both firms scaled up. And they discovered those ideas because they were curious, they solicited them, and they listened.

Many years ago I read a book, possibly McDonalds: Behind the Arches [1], that said a big part of the early growth of McDonalds was by building next to the rapidly expanding freeway system, and a big draw for customers was the restrooms that were kept in a spotless state.

Ray A Kroc, the guy responsible for McDonalds being McDonalds, believed that if you used clean restrooms to get people in the draw, they'd probably buy some soda or fries when they were in your store. It's hinted at in a quote from this other book [2]. And Wikipedia mentions that "[he] remained active in Des Plaines until the end of his life, frequently phoning the manager of the store across the street to remind him to clean his restaurant properly." [3]

I guess standards have slipped, though. I've been in McDonalds restrooms that would have Ray A Kroc roll over in his grave.

[1] http://www.amazon.ca/McDonalds-Behind-John-F-Love/dp/0553347...

[2] http://books.google.ca/books?id=Us2SKv7RWJEC&lpg=PA33...

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kroc