[kypro]

The thing is half of those startups wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for big tech acquisitions.

The fact that a startup without a viable business model can still have a $1b+ exit simply for having good tech is part of the reason why startups attract so much capital and can afford to be innovative.

I guess just be careful what you wish for. It can be anti-competitive, but it's also in part what's driven a lot of recent innovation.

[zeteo]

Do the big companies really use and develop the acquired technology though? It seems like most acquisitions end up being shut down and/or crappified within a few years.

[Clubber]

Sometimes they do, sometimes they just buy companies to eliminate competition or future competition. Sometimes it's some of A, some of B. It really depends.

[JohnFen]

While innovation is very important, I think that there is an unhealthy obsession with it. That obsession has a great deal of harmful effects and is a part of why people are increasingly holding tech in a dim light. The extreme focus on innovation leads to companies being abusive. Being abusive is a thing that has become normalized in the tech industry.