Sounds just like JBII's CEO. He's been funding his company for years with personal stock. I'm not saying either were or are scams. Both company financials are better then normal for OTC stocks. But whether the stock is being sold by VC funders or legit insiders. The game is the same.
Startups have nothing else to do when money is needed for growth. Sell stock. If the owner runs out of cash or the company runs out of cash. They can raise the capital through VC funding and let them sell to the open market or own the stock themselves and fund the company, personally.