Tech startups are desperately searching for buzz words that will generate a VC payday. Actual profit is optional.

s/profit/increase in valuation/

For most of the startup ecosystem, profits are less a goal than liquidity event. Often that comes in the form of an acqui-hire, monopoly buying out competition, or a technology transfer.

Profits are a distant focus, though remaining ahead of run rate has merits.

this makes sense if tech startups just existed, but they are brought into existence, by people who perhaps think "you know what would be neat, and also make money because people would totally want that, is radioactive soda pop!"

I guess in the end the effect is pretty much indistinguishable.

Yeah and this worked for quite a while as the prior generation was less STEM savvy than the younger generation who grew up on it and as such have had two decades to realize web app startups are just a generational Ponzi scheme that’s not going to literally take them to Mars or do much of anything but hand more of our agency to a bunch of patronizing elders who don’t contribute except in the form of political pageantry.