Technically he should be a software developer with a $120-200k salary working at Google, saving money with compound interest and getting company stock. Thats the easiest way as a CS grad to become wealthy - if thats your goal.

That's when you don't factor in 'skills'. If you're 'any' CS grad, you're right. Be if your skills are above average (CS and business sense), this skews the return of investment of the startup.

Well, not any developer can get $200k at Google. So skill is important in both respects.

C'est la vie. It's not the startup scene - it's a basic principle of society, unfortunately. Who you know is just as important as what you know or can do. The best thing to do is find people to know by showing them what you can do.