In the world of high-tech and innovative startups, venture capitalists have long been considered the guardians, or judicious meritocrats, directing funding to shape the industries of the future. WeWork, Uber and Theranos are just a few of the ‘visionary’ companies that promised to transform everything, from the way we work, to urban mobility, and even the future of healthcare. But the reality of such enterprises proved very different, and the venture capitalists of today are facing pushback over substantial investments in unprofitable businesses, leaving them to double down in future down-rounds in order to protect their investments.