start-ups
New business ventures
Start-ups are newly established businesses, typically in technology or innovation-driven sectors, characterized by high growth potential and often funded by venture capital.
The term implies entrepreneurial energy and risk: Silicon Valley start-ups, a start-up culture of long hours and equity stakes.
Start-up can modify other nouns: start-up costs, start-up phase.
Also spelled startup.
Risky new undertaking
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- angelDivine winged messenger
- capitalWealth used for investment
- investorOne who allocates capital
equity · valuation · bootstrapping · pitch · round · dilution · portfolio · syndicate
One who begins something
- cofounderJoint business originator
- entrepreneurshipCreating and managing ventures
- incubatorControlled warming enclosure
- acceleratorSpeed control mechanism
mentor · networking · pivot · lean · hustle · visionary · risk-taker · solopreneur
Climbing or resizing
- expansionIncrease in scope
- tractionAdhesive friction enabling movement
- userbaseActive adopters collectively
- revenueBusiness income total
profitability · marketshare · customer acquisition · retention · monetization · hockey stick · hypergrowth · unicorn
Forceful interruption of process
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- transformativeCausing major change
pioneering · cutting-edge · prototype · MVP · iteration · ideation · R&D · tech
Energetic, aggressive action
- grindCrush into particles
- ping-pongMiniature tennis on table
- open floor planInterior without dividing walls
- hoodiesSweatshirts with attached hoods
stock options · perks · flexible hours · remote · flat hierarchy · mission-driven · values · team
venture
Risky new undertaking
investor · equity · valuation · bootstrapping · pitch · round · dilution · portfolio · syndicate · IPO
founder
One who begins something
- cofounderJoint business originator
- entrepreneurshipCreating and managing ventures
- incubatorControlled warming enclosure
accelerator · mentor · networking · pivot · lean · hustle · visionary · risk-taker · solopreneur · serial entrepreneur
scaling
Climbing or resizing
- expansionIncrease in scope
- tractionAdhesive friction enabling movement
- userbaseActive adopters collectively
revenue · profitability · marketshare · customer acquisition · retention · monetization · hockey stick · hypergrowth · unicorn · decacorn
disruption
Forceful interruption of process
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
transformative · pioneering · cutting-edge · prototype · MVP · iteration · ideation · R&D · tech · agile
hustle
Energetic, aggressive action
- grindCrush into particles
- ping-pongMiniature tennis on table
- open floor planInterior without dividing walls
hoodies · stock options · perks · flexible hours · remote · flat hierarchy · mission-driven · values · team · all-hands
- tech industrysoftware, computers, semiconductors, hardware, Amazon
start-upsincumbents
Current holders of positions
multinationals · conglomerates · market leaders · household names · dinosaurs
start-upsstalwarts
Devoted, reliable supporters
bureaucracies · safe havens · cash cows · defensive stocks · government agencies