@hackstub @nlnet We've seen a similar pattern with public grants in the startup domain.

They often require a startup being VC funded already in order to apply for public grants.

What this means in practice is that VCs systematically get to decide what gets built and what doesn't and public grants just piggyback on that.

VCs are all over AI right now and this means public grants will also go to in that direction.

Wild incentives at play here.