Yes, this is the standard (and often correct) refrain - but think about it from the founders perspective: He risks 0 of his own funds to have a shot at getting

Yes, this is the standard (and often correct) refrain - but think about it from the founders perspective: He risks 0 of his own funds to have a shot at getting rich and never having to work again; he gets the excitement of growing a company to grapple with giants and take over markets; and even if he fails, the name recognition he obtained during the journey ensures he'll have his pick of lucrative future gigs. THAT's why so few tech lifestyle businesses stay that size, and it's all very logical really.