I'd like to add that while I totally admire Gideon Lewis-Kraus and Nikki Durkin for the struggles they went through, their stories aren't the average experience

I'd like to add that while I totally admire Gideon Lewis-Kraus and Nikki Durkin for the struggles they went through, their stories aren't the average experience of a founder in today’s Bay Area ecosystem. For every founder that has gotten seed funding, there are several times that number that haven't gotten anything. I made it to a startup accelerator, so I know that already puts me above the average experience. But for the others... Maybe they tried it for a year and burned through their life savings. Maybe they worked on nights and weekends and are still struggling. Maybe they quit their jobs, talked to every investor they could, and are still trying. That's the average experience. And don't forget about the world beyond the Bay Area...