I think there is a key point to this: Being a startup in a large corp works if you are the "famous" manager inside the corp and get your personal playing groun

I think there is a key point to this: Being a startup in a large corp works if you are the "famous" manager inside the corp and get your personal playing ground (skunk works?) project and are building something new. It works less, when you are being acquired and want to keep your independence. When acquiring the acquirer will look close at you to align the acquired product with the corporate interests.