A sign for Sand Hill Road stands against a blue sky in Menlo Park, Calif., on Aug. 25, 2016. “Sand Hill Road” has been used as a metonym for the venture capital industry, as many prominent firms have offices along the road.Smith Collection/Gado/Getty ImagesVenture capital has long been a key engine powering the Bay Area’s dominant industry. For decades, deep-pocketed Silicon Valley investors have poured millions into promising technology startups up and down the Peninsula, funding risky bets tha...