Completely agree. The old adage is "it's now what you know, it's who you know".

This is especially true in the computer industry. If you want to create a startup you need to know people with money to fund you, and business/technical people you can get to help you out with your ideas. On the other side, you can get a great start on a job as a programmer if you know someone who's willing to give you the time and exposure you need to learn and grow.