It seems hard to believe that a company’s managers would want to do their landlords a favor by paying more rent when they don’t have to. How would investors even ask for that?
I am involved in a real estate selection process right now and I can definitely see this sort of stuff going on. I don't like it but folks with the money make the rules.
If you're a startup, getting office space without much bullshit is worth a premium.
Assume, you own Microsoft stock and are a venture capitalist. How do you react to your latest investment considering to buy AWS vs. Azure? The same pattern might apply in many more direct forms. Where does that fruit basket come from? What headhunting agancy do you trust with your top-level hiring?
I wouldn't be surprised if most VCs would mitigate their risks by funneling a startup's expenses back to their own investmentsnin one way or another. Vacant office space is just another such investment.
What do you mean "ask"? They demand because it's their capital that fuels the company.
It's not like a VC gives money to a company and then cannot do anything but wait for returns.