Often it's the desire/need for an extremely high growth rate (often imposed on founders by investors) that makes an overwise sustainable business model unviable

Often it's the desire/need for an extremely high growth rate (often imposed on founders by investors) that makes an overwise sustainable business model unviable. > Many business models must pass through these phases. I think there are very few categories of companies that ~must~ go through a "Growth Phase". Sure, there are rocket companies like SpaceX and Uber/marketplaces that only work at scale... but the majority of internet software companies cost very little to get up and running and have very, very high gross margins. Meaning for many companies, the only thing stopping them from immediately entering the "Sustainable Phase" is an incessant need to maintain extremely high growth through excessive spending.