3 ms·
Oh get the hell off that horse. > "So I've made a new rule: unless you've raised money, are bringing in substantial revenue, or have a sizable active user base
by potatolicious 14y ago
Oh get the hell off that horse.
> "So I've made a new rule: unless you've raised money, are bringing in substantial revenue, or have a sizable active user base, don't call whatever you're building a startup."
So... bootstrapped companies can't be startups? What about a funded, B2B service that is bringing in millions in revenue, but only has two clients signed up?
> "Every time you introduce your product to someone as a startup, you set an expectation for where the conversation is going next: your funding, revenue, user base, that sort of talk."
No it doesn't. It only does if you interact solely with people in a very specific subset of entrepreneurs. You know the type - the people who are always at "startup parties" and hanging out in incubators and coworking spaces all day. There is a large, large world out there where the word "startup" doesn't automatically lead a conversation someplace.
And even within that scene, I have rarely run into situations where "startup" automatically steers the conversation towards funding, userbase, and revenue. Methinks the author hangs out with the wrong people.
> "someone tells you they're doing a startup, you ask for details, and it turns out to be pretty nascent. Kind of a let down, right?"
No, because I haven't pigeonholed the word "startup" into something incredibly, and to be blunt, absurdly specific.
> "The more we throw around the word "startup", the less of an impact it has when we actually want it to matter."
Because it doesn't matter. The word "startup" is a general descriptor for the nature and state of your business. If you are throwing that word around for "impact", you are no better than these other people you complain about.
- 10char 14y ago> So... bootstrapped companies can't be startups? What about a funded, B2B service that is bringing in millions in revenue, but only has two clients signed up? I think the missed the "or" in "raised money, are bringing in substantial revenue, /or/ have a sizable active user base". Your B2B example is perfectly fine. And I think some of your other points are based on this misunderstanding, too.
- potatolicious 14y agoSo, I quit my job and decide to bootstrap a company. I've launched my product and it's in its very early stages of gaining traction. I'm not allowed to say "I'm working on a startup?" - even though my cofounder(s) and I have poured tens of thousands of our own money into it and have been full-timing it for months? Forgive me for being blunt: but this reads like whining. You want the your use of the word "startup" to automatically grant you some credibility, and are complaining about people who are trying to do the same. You will find this in any community. You're not a real painter unless you [blank], you're not a real photographer unless you [blank], you're not a real writer unless you [blank], you're not a real programmer unless you [blank]. And now, you're not a real startup unless you [blank].
- Geekette 14y ago@10char: If you're saying that you meant any of 3 paths(funding/revenue/users), then you might want to rephrase more explicitly, i.e. "either of a, b or c" OR "a or b or c", because it currently reads as a+b or c.
- stephengillie 14y agoThe buzzword is mainstreaming, which angers hipsters, so they blog. The earth continues to spin and quake...
- tptacek 14y ago"Startup" vs. "bootstrapped company" is the "hacker vs. cracker" debate of tech entrepreneurship. At this point, you probably just need to let it go. Congrats on the new business!