Reading between the lines I think you are an entrepreneur, rather than a startup founder? The key difference I imagine is you need to be a business at all times and so focus on operations, and a startup doesn't have to be a business yet, but does have to focus on self-image and projecting that image to investors to keep the gravy train flowing in.

My key takeaway from startups vs entrepreneurship is they are very different games, and I wouldn't want to conflate the two even in this discussion about transparency. Many businesses stand to gain nothing, and lose a lot, by exposing their business particulars. Startups on the otherhand can gain a lot from the self-promotion.