But the rise of a thriving secondary market in shares of private companies has reduced the pressure for liquidity events for venture-backed Valley startups, and business success has reduced the need for big capital infusions.

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And in recent years, Apple, Facebook, Google and other Silicon Valley giants have undertaken efforts, voluntarily and under pressure from groups like Greenpeace, to slash their massive electricity consumption and secure power from renewable energy sources.

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They mostly come from the fertile Rift Valley of Kenya, the breadbasket of the country, putting more pressure on already skyrocketing food prices.

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McCourtney, works to keep the right balance, but the pressure is building on the New York-based firm to overhaul itself and act more like its Silicon Valley outpost: hasty and brazen.

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