Success in startups used to mean one thing. Build a unicorn, go public, and gradually take over the world. That is no longer the definition of success. This message is not just for founders. It is for venture capitalists, limited partners, and anyone involved in buying or building companies. The way value is created, measured, and realized has shifted, and the market data supports it. In the first half of 2025, global startup acquisition value surpassed $100 billion, up more than 150% year-over-year.