The macro economically productive "purpose" of a start-up is to make profit, not to "exit". Until this is understood and forced by the economy, the overall economic climate in the US will continue to deteriorate.
The purpose of a company is to make money. There is no disagreement there. But the fact that economic climate in the US is deteriorating is bunk, and double bunk that even if it were, it would be related to misunderstandings of the purposes for which startups are founded and run...
Do you own a house in SF now, as an Uber employee? In 1950s one would be able to afford that, with a non-working wife and several children.
Rather personal no? I guess a question merits answering. I do not - but not because I cannot afford one, I am saving my money for something else :)