This question presents a very false dichotomy: "Is the startup world a meritocracy, or are there leagues in startups?"
If we are making a sports analogy, then having different leagues does NOT imply that it is not a meritocracy. The very best (judged from merit) end up in the top leagues. Sports is the ULTIMATE meritocracy, in fact, because there is a simple and fair way to judge who is better.
Leagues just form so that that similarly talented people face each other in fair competition.
If we are making a sports analogy, then having different leagues does NOT imply that it is not a meritocracy. The very best (judged from merit) end up in the top leagues. Sports is the ULTIMATE meritocracy, in fact, because there is a simple and fair way to judge who is better.
Leagues just form so that that similarly talented people face each other in fair competition.