You understand the goal of any business, especially an internet business, is to become a monopoly right?

Look at Amazon, Google, FB, etc. They only became profitable once they became monopolies, and thus could set their own prices based on whatever metrics they chose.

The reason startups take outside funding is so that they can become a monopoly in a given market, and then charge customers whatever they want.

Don't fall for the marketing hype. Startups don't save the world. Scientists, doctors and inventors do. Startups just make a few people very, very rich at the expense of their customers by selling them mostly crap they don't need or want, using psychological manipulation (i.e. marketing).

Once you understand that this isn't some noble quest, you can finally begin to understand how to play the game (of thrones).