[grey-area]

I've got no problems with people exiting like that, but it makes me wonder where all the pressure to sell up and move on comes from.

The pressure often comes from the VCs who put a lot of money down in an initial investment, and need at least some of their bets to pay off within a short time-frame. Are there any long-term VC funds which accept stock and then wait for dividends?

[patmcguire]

It's generally too easy to game dividends - you can do lots of Hollywood accounting to make money without ever "making money."

Companies also aren't obligated to pay a dividend even if they're profitable - see Apple up until about a year ago.

[nicholassmith]

I'm not sure, I can see it from the VC point of wanting to return on investment as fast as possible. It does seem like it creates an industry based on ship it, sell it.