What is the mark of success? VC funding and IPOs? What about the thousands of under 30s who have made good products, are living a good life from the earnings, and aren't seeking to be bought out? I know more than a few under 30s entrepreneurs who don't live in the Valley, have reputable positive cashflow sites, and spend much of their free time traveling the world and meeting new people. How is that not success if that is exactly what they wanted to do? Yet you won't hear about them in lists like these, though they have had garnered lots of media coverage about their projects.<p>Success varies person to person. Four billion in the bank and a fully-booked schedule may be success to one while $240k in savings with absolutely no obligations may be success to another. This doesn't mean they are not entrepreneurs. It just means they don't fit the author's/society's definition of success.