Earlier quoted context omitted.
comment says "metaphoric" debt. Surely you can agree that the principals of a company owe (in the sense of being socially obligated) a debt of thanks and gratitude to investors for taking a risk on them in the first place?
No. The relationship is wrong if you feel indebted to your investors and like they deserve thanks. They are partners in the business. Presumably the CEO did all they could to succeed and behaved in an ethical and honorable manner. If they did so, then investors have been well served. I will agree however that anyone who ever chooses to do business with you in any context deserves thanks. On that basis, thanks is dese…
Plus, they knew the risks. There is no reason to feel sorry for early-stage investors who lose money unless some kind of fraud was perpetrated on them.