Interesting story. But it confirms that Silicon Valley is, in fact, just a network of connections and fraternities.
If you are a member of the club, then the only way is up, but the opposite is true if you are NOT a member, and if you get kicked out.
Either way, the hustle is real; the grind is hard if you want to do things from scratch. The journey may be hard, but it will be worth it.
SV has so many crash-and-burn superstars. The lucky few who make it are far and few. Choose wisely.