Not sure if that is a funded-startup thing exclusively, as I know at least one bootstrapped startup with co-founder drama, but adding investors to the mixed seem to bring a lot of things to a boil.
I actually thought it's the number 1 killer.
Silly okay.. but I think it speaks to the culture. No one I know here in Arizona includes "after our series A" in their plans. A higher valuation seems to be the end goal for most startups in the Valley, and dramatically alters the way they do things.
Personally I would dread trying to outrun the burn rate funded companies operate under as 99% of them have no revenue or not enough to turn a profit.
We are forced to build a 'boring' business that can sustain itself from nearly day 1, which leads to a different culture entirely. We solve the revenue equation first, which makes things easier and less stressful in the long run. My 2 cents and YMMV
While a funded VC has access to the extensive network of influential investors, thousands of people and buzz from blogs.