It also helps if you can find someone with $16 billion of Facebooks blood money burning a hole in their conscience. And a hundred mil or so that'd fallen behind the couch cushions they can throw your way as a PR stunt or reputation management exercise...
I get your skepticism, but on the other hand I don't see the Jan Koums of the world throwing their money away, even if for PR. Acton is walking the talk, and it looks like his presence has meant some ex WhatsApp engs have joined him at Signal, too. What more could this man do?