You’re right that the underlying incentives are very different. Traditional businesses are built to last, so the focus is naturally on steady profits, good operations, and long-term customer value.

In tech — especially with VC money involved — the company itself becomes the product. An exit isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s the model. That pushes founders toward growth over profit and narrative over durability.

It doesn’t mean tech companies are “fake,” but it does mean a startup can look busy and promising while still drifting toward failure if the long-term fundamentals never arrive.

Some of the strongest startups today are the ones that intentionally step away from that exit mindset and build for resilience instead.