A lottery has a fixed set of rules, and in terms of game design they do design it where you can win every so often but being a fixed game the odds are against y

A lottery has a fixed set of rules, and in terms of game design they do design it where you can win every so often but being a fixed game the odds are against you (like a casino). And part of this is also that a lottery is a game of chance, not a game of skill. Pitching for VC or angel investment is not a fixed game with a set of pre-determned rules, and also does involve skill. So I would say that it's not really the same as buying lottery tickets. Also unlike a lottery where you have an even playing field there are people who do have advantages (friends with wealth, a good network, track record, etc.) Now are the odds against you? Of course! In fact you can still raise VC or angel money and still go under, and in fact most will. But in a broader sense the same rules apply to starting any sort of business if you think about it.