There isn't really a standard definition of the word "startup". But many in Silicon Valley think of it as how PG defined it: http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.

There isn't really a standard definition of the word "startup". But many in Silicon Valley think of it as how PG defined it: http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html > A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in itself make a company a startup. Nor is it necessary for a startup to work on technology, or take venture funding, or have some sort of "exit." The only essential thing is growth. Everything else we associate with startups follows from growth.