<i>I realize this is a good way to maximize value for investors, but is this a healthy way to grow new companies and build a better society?</i><p>It&#x27;s complicated, but for startups the answer is Yes.<p>If every auto company merged into one monopoly, society (other than the shareholders) would be worse for it.  This is why anti-trust legislation exists.<p>If startups create things that never existed before and wind up owning the market for a few years, society benefits.  This is why patent protection exists.  (Yes - it&#x27;s abused in software, but that&#x27;s another story)<p>It&#x27;s certainly not black and white.  As a buyer, I may say &quot;I&#x27;d rather have service X from many providers than one provider, but I&#x27;d rather have it from one provider than not at all.&quot;