Most successful startups have a great story because they are great story tellers. Great stories make for great articles, even if fictional.

Great entrepreneurs can see a problem and identify the opportunity that exists there. Rarely do people set out to merely solve a personal problem and end up with a massive company by accident.

When one doesn't understand the risks involved in creating a startup, they are more risk averse and might have an advantage there. You don't have to worry about friends who keep talking about starting a startup, they're mostly talk and no action. If they do start something, they're already ahead of most people reading hacker news.