Partially true; practically not. Most VC funds do have exit dates and specific life spans (typically 7-10 years). The way it was explained to me that if you ha

Partially true; practically not. Most VC funds do have exit dates and specific life spans (typically 7-10 years). The way it was explained to me that if you have 10 companies in your portfolio, by year 7 you will have: * 3 total busts. Out of business; zero return on investment. * 4 "walking dead". Still in business, but just barely breaking even. Might as well be zero return because these investments are not liquid (who wants to buy a 7-year-old risky business with no profit?) Anymore these end up as acqui-hires with the VC getting pennies on the dollar. * 2 minor successes. Good, profitable companies that will probably never produce a hockey-stick graph. 2x-3x return. * 1 home run. If you're lucky. 10x return (though usually closer to 5x). Her example was bad, but it was just an example. VC is a tough industry to actually make any money in. VCs don't pressure founders to do things because they are greedy, it's because they're scared of losing their shirts.