Every company/startup will be different in some way, so what MVP means for them -- and the reason they go that route -- will be unique.
At least in some cases, MVP is the minimal product you made which illustrates your solution, your value proposition. You use that to get big investment to build "the real one".
Unfortunately, some (many?) companies want to take that MVP and live with it indefinitely, organically (sloppily) growing it as they go.
MVP can be seen as that thing you do which gives you the opportunity to exist but which gradually drags you to the bottom of the sea with technical debt.
At least in some cases, MVP is the minimal product you made which illustrates your solution, your value proposition. You use that to get big investment to build "the real one".
Unfortunately, some (many?) companies want to take that MVP and live with it indefinitely, organically (sloppily) growing it as they go.
MVP can be seen as that thing you do which gives you the opportunity to exist but which gradually drags you to the bottom of the sea with technical debt.