because SVB was making loans to the startups they invested in. startups had a contractual obligation to bank exclusively with SVB and then SVB would give them l

because SVB was making loans to the startups they invested in. startups had a contractual obligation to bank exclusively with SVB and then SVB would give them loans, so they had a fat cash balance on their balance sheet, but they couldnt actually withdraw the money. SVB was getting paid to make startups look good so they could raise more money.