When it is not making a profit for you, it is not worth anything to others and as such probably will sell for less than you have invested if it sells at all. I

When it is not making a profit for you, it is not worth anything to others and as such probably will sell for less than you have invested if it sells at all. It is good to have an exit strategy, even if that exit strategy includes holding on to your company forever. But with the IPO market as non-existent as it is in the US, your chances of making a bundle there are the null. Most entrepreneurs enjoy the thrill of the startup itself, not the management of some big company years down the road. It is not that they are "eager" to sell from day one, but by seeking funding and planning the future of the company they are forced to evaluate exit strategies. Since acquisition can be a lucrative exit strategy it is most often looked at as the end result. The adrenaline rush comes in creating the company, the product, and delivering it to customers (free or paid). At some point you have to look to an exit whether it be an IPO or acquisition if you took on funding (the investors want their money back with a return at some point).