Start up

Start-up is a term used to describe a newly established business, typically small, started by one or more entrepreneurs to develop a unique product or service and bring it to market. By its nature, the typical start-up tends to be a shoestring operation, with initial funding from the founders or their friends and families.

History

The term "start-up" has been associated with the high-tech industry since the 1970s, but it was popularized in the 1990s with the boom of the Internet, which created an environment of new opportunities for such businesses. The dot-com bubble of the late 1990s was a period of unprecedented growth for Internet-based start-ups.

Characteristics

Start-ups have several unique characteristics that differentiate them from other types of businesses. These include:

• Innovation: Start-ups often aim to fill a gap in the market by developing a viable business model around a product, service, process or platform that is innovative or disruptive.

• Scalability: Start-ups are built to scale. They are designed to grow rapidly and efficiently to a large size.

• Uncertainty: Start-ups face high uncertainty. This can be due to a variety of factors, including changing market conditions, technological advancements, and competitive pressures.

Funding

Start-ups often rely on a variety of funding sources, including:

• Bootstrapping: This involves funding a start-up through personal savings or the early revenue it generates.

• Angel Investors: These are individuals who provide capital for start-ups in exchange for ownership equity or convertible debt.

• Venture Capital: This is a type of private equity financing that is provided by venture capital firms to start-ups they believe have long-term growth potential.

Challenges

Start-ups face many challenges, including:

• Market Risk: The risk that the market size is overestimated, leading to less than expected customer demand.

• Financial Risk: The risk of running out of money before a start-up can become profitable.

• Team Risk: The risk of not having the right team to execute on the business plan.

See Also

• Entrepreneurship
• Business Model
• Venture Capital
• Angel Investor
• Bootstrapping