I know multiple companies that have "called it" and returned money to shareholders. Sometimes outright, others via acquihires when the company has a fair bit of

I know multiple companies that have "called it" and returned money to shareholders. Sometimes outright, others via acquihires when the company has a fair bit of runway. It's a combination of respect to investors, the drain of working on something that isn't going anywhere, and starting a fresh company (and cap table) if you have something you want to do instead.