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Seems like an odd theory on the heels of three counter examples. Bill Gates didn't create the first OS, Larry and Sergey didn't create the search engine, and Mark Zuckerberg didn't build the first social network.

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exactly. given that, if you want to be the next Bill Gates or Larry & Sergey or Mark Zuckerberg then you should focus on spotting some new but already existing invention and crate a competitor that is just slightly better then the original.

Yes, but most people don't know that. They started using computers on Windows, their first social network account was on Facebook, and their first Internet search was performed on Google. Therefore, even if the examples are not technically accurate, they are still extremely effective at getting Thiel's point across.

But any point where the strongest examples aren't "technically true" and therefore rely on a common misconception is a pretty weak argument. Either Thiel's point is weak, or he means something else.

I suspect he means doing those things (search engine, OS, social network) in a way no one else had.

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