Startups with this mindset need not apply. The market for agricultural technology will always exist, and there's no reason a new player needs to "exit" instead

Startups with this mindset need not apply. The market for agricultural technology will always exist, and there's no reason a new player needs to "exit" instead of growing and sustaining the business. See the comments about repair parts. These aren't cheap toys like smartphones and eyepads that are only meant to last a few years. Ag machinery are capital assets that should function for decades. The people buying this equipment are in it for the long haul, and anyone financing such a venture should be also. If SV VC prefers scale-and-exit schemes, then it's not a good fit, but SV VC isn't the only source of capital.