"Startup"

Just your friendly weekly reminder that

The term, “Startup”

Was a marketing word created by VCs in the 1970s

To describe and glorify the types of companies they wanted to invest in.

(Aka high-risk high-growth small businesses taking such big bets that they were willing to give up their own ownership in order to achieve it.)

So, if you're feeling bad about not being a "startup" founder,

Because you’re just running a small business,

Rest assured:

Startup founders are also running a small business.

…just with little to no profit

…and only a portion of ownership

…and a work pace that can verge on insanity

…and a cap on owner salary that's far below standard

…and monthly/quarterly oversight by multiple voting stakeholders.

Now, you might wonder why more than a tiny portion of founders would want to run a business like that.

And I’ll answer that question by reminding you that…

That the term “Startup”

Was a marketing word created by VCs in the 1970s

To describe and glorify the types of companies they wanted to invest in.

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