Nothing excludes people who start lifestyle businesses from starting a huge multi-billion dollar infrastructure play after they have created their first business.
However they will be much better at "business" by the time they do it.
Yes, they may be better at running a business, but they'll be stuck in running a business.
Small businesses aren't easy to sell, there are tons of family-type small businesses (and I am not talking about corner shops) lacking anyone to take over.
While making it all automated is the goal, it doesn't mean it will be attained. I believe CD Baby is more an exception than the rule. Its hard to hire people who care, let alone people who will make sure the business runs even without you.
> Nothing excludes people who start lifestyle businesses from starting a huge multi-billion dollar infrastructure play after they have created their first business.
so they would invest their own money to create a bigger company, the difference being that the source of funding is now the founder
then the founder thinks, jeez, I am taking a big risk here, investing $100M of my own money to start this bigger business. I am going to call some friends and ask them if they want to share this load
and thus you end up re-inventing venture capital
issue of semantics isn't it - why does it matter that it has to be the founders own money?
However they will be much better at "business" by the time they do it.