All true, but the big guys have the money and will sometimes...

All true, but the big guys have the money and will sometimes take the risk supporting the tech start-ups (for a discount on current or future share price). The cost of money to the start-up could still be less than from a lender of last resort or no start at all.

When the big, often discounted investor, sells down or out the company also benefits from a widened shareholder base which might be less likely to try strong arming the co. into special favours, mergers and the like.

Still hurts to see discounts to some and not to me.