Private companies face a tough squeeze. Stay private and you're constantly hunting for enough capital to compete and innovate—burn through reserves fast when growth demands it. Go public and you're suddenly under the microscope—investors demand consistent profits, growth trajectory, the whole playbook. The market doesn't care about your vision; it cares about your numbers. Either path comes with serious friction. What's becoming clear is that those inflated valuations everyone got excited about won't hold up once the pressure's on. Reality check is coming, and sooner rather than later.