But that's the thing, though: unlike many Uber/Lyft drivers, you have chosen to put yourself into this situation. The onus is on you to figure out how to support yourself while you have no income working on your startup, not on the random people who ride in your car while you're driving for Lyft.

True, I chose to put myself in this situation. My point is that tipping should be an option, but not mandatory. What the Uber drivers are doing in the article is highly unethical. The irony of it is I am building a financial planning platform for low-mid income individuals and families. I have spent years in the financial industry making good money, now I am turning into my own guinea pig. The last few months have been a healthy wake up call for me on how most people live in this country. Wall Street and Silicon Valley are sooooooo out of touch with reality. That one or two dollars means almost nothing to you, but for most people it adds up and makes a difference.

Well, I wouldn't consider yourself funded until the term sheet is signed and the money has been wired.

You'll get a lot of "warm" courtship interest from investors who actually are just scoping out the field, so to speak, and you'll run into ones who have cold feet and back out at the last minute (I even had an outstanding term sheet get withdrawn once).

Just be careful. Investors are often very two-faced.

Agreed 100%, it can be annoying sometimes, but it is part of the game.