He does seem to be pandering to his target audience - specifically those who will be just independent enough to consider failing at a startup, but not so indepe

He does seem to be pandering to his target audience - specifically those who will be just independent enough to consider failing at a startup, but not so independent that they'll question the more questionable elements of startup culture. Startup culture really isn't the most natural home for independent and original minds. It's a good match for those who are just different enough to play the game on its own terms, but not so different they'll ask themselves why the game exists. Or whether better games are possible. And IMO independence correlates far more closely with creativity. I find it more useful to wonder "What is this belief/tradition/culture going to look like five hundred years from now, and/or from the perspective of a disinterested alien visitor?" than to wonder if I'm being independent enough to get investor funding.