It's interesting because it seems like this isn't "the way" anymore -- now the market is full of companies that have valuations in the tens of billions before a

It's interesting because it seems like this isn't "the way" anymore -- now the market is full of companies that have valuations in the tens of billions before actually throwing off the first dollar of profit (if they ever actually do). There's nothing inherently wrong with a maximal-growth strategy -- and in some ways, the highly competitive funding market has pushed founders in that direction whether they prefer it or not -- but that is an inherently riskier and lossier strategy (doomed companies get much farther, and burn much more money, before flaming out). I have a feeling, though, that underlying market conditions are changing again in a way that will make ramen profitability more desirable again.