Ask HN: When is a startup a startup?

1 point·WesleyThurner··3 comments

How do you define a startup?

When is a startup a startup?

ex: If I have an idea and I ask my parents for $1000, am I startup?

> A startup company or startup is a company, a partnership or temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.[1] These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets. The term became popular internationally during the dot-com bubble when a great number of dot-com companies were founded.

> Lately, the term startup has been associated mostly with technological ventures designed for high-growth. Paul Graham, founder of one of the top startup accelerators in the world, defines a startup as: "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."[2]

copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_company

[1] Blank, Steve (March 5, 2012). "Search versus Execute". Retrieved July 22, 2012.

[2] Graham, Paul (September, 2012). "Startup is growth". Retrieved Oct 18, 2012.

A small business that is attempting to become a large one.

But really, talking about the meanings of words is pointless. Try asking a more practical question about the thing that consists of you having an idea and asking your parents for $1000.

Thanks for the response. I have created a few low quality android apps and make about $30-40 a month. It is a hobby, hopefully something more in the future.

I'm just amazed at how freely the term 'startup' is used to label anything and everything.

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