I'm not VC-funded, either (hopefully I can avoid that entirely, but at the moment I've barely started working on angel funding). I was born into a poor family,

I'm not VC-funded, either (hopefully I can avoid that entirely, but at the moment I've barely started working on angel funding). I was born into a poor family, with no connections to speak of. I simply did not know anyone who was wealthy or successful when I was a kid. I've made a comfortable middle-class life for myself through lots of hard work. Starting a software company is something I'm doing because I see a valuable problem to solve, and something I believe I can do because I'm smart and determined - not because I was born into privilege.