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People use it to mean "a company that can grow very quickly over the coming years". Hence some people pointing to "startups like Facebook and Twitter" but ignor
by JoachimSchipper 15y ago
People use it to mean "a company that can grow very quickly over the coming years". Hence some people pointing to "startups like Facebook and Twitter" but ignoring the recently-opened restaurant.
(Is this what the word should mean? Probably not, but there's no way to change it.)
- chris_dcosta 15y agoI've never seen or heard it used like this, and by contrast I have heard it used for a restaurant!
- coryl 15y agoWikipedia has an entry on the word. "These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets." I think that best describes it. Opening a small retail business is not really a startup because there is much more certainty in the business model and market. Tech startups however, have opportunities to operate in new and undeveloped markets, and obviously technology lets you scale up extremely fast.
- ahoyhere 15y agoThe Wikipedia definition may be accurate. It's important to note that it does not say "undeveloped markets." You added that in your head. "Development and research for markets" -- just markets. That means any market. Startup is a phase, not a type of business. There's no reason not to consider a brand new restaurant a startup. Except possibly that it did its market research before opening its doors, unlike what most people on HN call a "startup."