On the consumer side, software competition is shifting from science to art

For consumer apps, the dynamic is different from enterprise. If two people both build the same posture-correction app, the better product doesn't automatically win — the best songs aren't on the Billboard 100. What drives awareness is the promotion and marketing of a piece of IP, not just the code or design. That's actually an arbitrage opportunity: if you're someone who's really personable and can open doors others can't, you get a leg up that has nothing to do with technical skill. Even someone who's just passing muster on the code side still has a real chance if they bring other strengths. The overall shift, especially on the consumer side, is from science to art.