> 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.