This is true in the general case. In the general case a startup isn't going to be successful, the founder is inexperienced and easily pushed around by the VCs,

This is true in the general case. In the general case a startup isn't going to be successful, the founder is inexperienced and easily pushed around by the VCs, and generally needs to follow their orders to keep bridge rounds, etc coming. In the rare case of a successful startup, if the board doesn't replace the founder with an experienced executive, the founder probably has as much autonomy as corporate executive in charge of a successful division of a company.