[namenotrequired]

> However, it is nonsensical for a non-profit startup founder to accept close-to-zero salary.

I've volunteered for a non-profit organisation where even full-timers didn't have a salary, including the founders, though their most direct expenses were taken care of by the organisation. These people didn't want money from the organisation because they didn't need it to stay alive and they knew it would be better spent directly on achieving their goals. It makes sense to me; you don't (and perhaps shouldn't) work full-time for a charity you're not passionate about.