> If just still running was the goal, any company that raised money would just take it and keep a mailbox open in perpetuity, and do nothing else, thus achieving the bar for success.

Firstly, that's not what "a running business" is generally understood to mean. I apologise if english is not your first language and the phrase was misunderstood by yourself.

Secondly, twitter is operating, they are not simply keeping the address alive. They have far surpassed that "bar" of merely keeping an address alive.

Thirdly, growth is not the bar for success in any business, nevermind "nearly every business". For shareholders, sure, they'd love to see growth (which you have left undefined), but any business that can meet it's monthly expenses is considered a successful business.

English isn't my first language, I'll defer to folks who are better able to contribute to the conversation then.

Don't move the goal posts.

The naysayers claimed everything from the site crashing due to lack of maintenance to the business going under due to fleeing advertisers.

As it turns out, and whether you like it or not, Twitter is still doing business ("still running") as usual.