full-stack startup

Definition

A company that owns and controls every layer of its product or service delivery, from manufacturing to customer experience, rather than relying on existing infrastructure or platforms. It's vertical integration for the startup age.

Example Usage

Tesla operates as a full-stack startup, controlling everything from battery production to their own sales and service network.

Origin

Coined by Chris Dixon at a16z in 2014, borrowing from 'full-stack developer'

Fun Fact

Full-stack startups require massive capital but can defend against competition better than platform-dependent companies.

Source: Startup strategy and business model terminology

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