When is a Start Up no longer a Start Up?
I find it interesting how long companies like to keep the “start up” tagline associated with their business. For example, take a look at the Facebook jobs page and you’ll note they use the term start up several times. Everyone knows their “start up” story, but a company that SIZE, in terms of finances, staff, and age, is it really cool to keep calling your self a start up? If you’re 40yrs old should you be wearing clothes meant for a 19yr old college kid?
Some people think a start up is defined by its lack of profitability, however some start ups are immediately profitable!
Some say that you are a start up until you “exit” in some fashion, acquisition, IPO, or failure.
Many people believe start up is a “state of mind”.
Personally, I like the idea of a building a business around start up “culture” or “lifestyle” and I am not against calling a business a start up if its roots and philosophy are fundamentally grounded by its hopes and aspirations to grow and make a difference.
As far as I know there is no formal definition of “start up” it is what you make it!
What do you think defines a business as a start up?
