Sure, interested in how the problem they're solving may get them a pot of gold. Founders aren't motivated by the problem no more than athletes are motivated by

Sure, interested in how the problem they're solving may get them a pot of gold. Founders aren't motivated by the problem no more than athletes are motivated by the love of the game. Children are motivated in that manner. But not adults. Startups, like sports, are a business. The only concern is money. That is the ends. The startup, problem, etc are just the means to that end. Every founder is motivated by money. It just sounds tacky and cheap to say you did it for money, so everyone builds up some silly story - "to help people", "to solve a problem", "cause it was a passion", "to create jobs for the community", "create value for others", etc. Nope. It was all for money. No need to be embarrassed about it.