In every episode of “Silicon Valley,” the HBO comedy series created by Mike Judge, there is always a moment, rendered utterly deadpan, that both mocks and explains the current, are-we-in-a-bubble-yet state of play in, well, Silicon Valley.
In one episode, for instance, the hero, Richard Hendricks, the nerdy founder of Pied Piper, mentions the plans he has “once we have a subscription-revenue model.” His backer, an obnoxious billionaire exclaims, “No, no, no! Why would you go after revenue?”
“To make money?” Richard answers meekly. “If you have no revenue, you can say you are prerevenue,” explains the billionaire.