Disrupting disruption with disruptive disruptions since 2010.
When existing shareholders sell their shares publicly without the company itself receiving any money—basically using the company as a cash machine.
Supposedly novel and revolutionary; corporate-speak for 'we added one feature that already exists elsewhere but with aggressively different marketing.'
A self-appointed visionary who had an idea first or adopted one early; startup world's favorite honorific for anyone owning three blockchain apps and genuine FOMO.
An event where startup cohorts (usually from accelerators like Y Combinator) pitch to 500+ investors in rapid-fire succession—speed dating for capital.
A division of an established corporation that invests in startups, usually with the goal of finding complementary technology or market opportunities. Big companies' way of seeming innovative without actually being disruptive.
A specific niche market where you can dominate quickly before expanding to larger markets, the landing zone before the broader invasion.
Subsequent rounds of funding representing your startup's graduation from 'scrappy' to 'possibly overvalued' to 'we definitely raised too much money.'
Total value returned divided by the original investment amount. The metric VCs use to measure how many times they multiplied their money.
A moderate anti-dilution clause that factors in both the down round price and the number of new shares issued—less devastating for founders than full ratchet but still painful.
A metric suggesting that growth rate + profit margin should equal 40% for a healthy software company—8% growth with 32% margin, or 35% growth with 5% margin, both equal 40.
The process and cost of getting new users/customers. It's usually the most expensive thing a startup does and also the most important.
Wealthy individuals who invest in early-stage startups, either because they see potential or more likely because they're bored and have disposable income.
Developing within existing codebase and systems, guaranteed to be slower and more frustrating than greenfield development but somehow more realistic about constraints.
Daily Active Users divided by Monthly Active Users, a metric expressing engagement where anything above 33% is considered respectable and anything below 10% is a sign of serious problems.
Low-fidelity sketches of how a user interface will work, before high-fidelity design. It's the cheapest way to validate UX before wasting designer time.
The first major institutional funding round, typically $2-15 million, where professional VCs finally take your startup seriously. The moment you stop being a 'cool idea' and become a 'company with serious growth ambitions.'
The third major funding round, usually $20M-$100M+, designed to accelerate growth and expand into new markets. When 'startup' starts sounding like 'real company' and the pressure becomes genuinely intense.
A space of the market that a powerful VC firm claims as theirs, and they'll kill any startup that tries to compete there. It's legal monopoly behavior with a cute name.
The total profit a customer generates for your company over their entire relationship—essentially predicting whether they'll be worth the investment to acquire.
To engage in a battle of wills, skills, or resources against rivals for supremacy, positioning, or bragging rights. The corporate version of 'may the best person win' minus the actual physical combat.
To officially embark on a vessel, aircraft, or train after security clearance; also corporate-speak for officially joining a project or organization after onboarding procedures. The moment of no return, metaphorically speaking.
The process of determining whether you've achieved product-market fit—usually involving delusional founders, skeptical board members, and contradictory metrics.
Platforms where employees and early shareholders can sell restricted private stock before IPO, giving insiders a chance to diversify while theoretically validating company valuation.
A carefully crafted 60-second monologue designed to convince investors that your app idea will revolutionize humanity, delivered with the energy of someone who hasn't slept in 48 hours.