Mukesh Ambani just called Reliance Jio a startup (rather world’s largest startup).
Dell too calls itself a startup (rather, world’s largest startup).
Lot of teams inside big corporates (working on new initiatives) now call themselves a startup.
Their answer?
We are a new team inside this big corporate house. We are resource crunched (have very little budget).
The truth:
We are fucking bored here and we (+ management) feel nice when we call ourselves a startup.
The reality
Before you call yourself a startup, just answer this:
What happens end of this month? Next month?
Are you worried about *no-money* / *no-salary* situation?
If you are sure about salary hitting the bank account (that *happy* SMS you get!), please don’t call yourself a startup.
Startups Are Not Just About Being Small (In Size)
Or lack of resources.
Or lack of budgets.
In early stages, startups are largely about ‘uncertainties‘.
Startups are largely about short runways.
Really short runway.
You either make it or you crash.
And when you crash, you don’t get that ‘happy salary’ SMS (there is no guarantee even otherwise).
There is zero comfort of salary (salary does translates to security) that others enjoy (FYI : I didn’t take salary for more than 3 years of starting NextBigWhat).
Sorry my friends in corporate houses, you aren’t a startup team over there.
At best, you are a lean team (with a comfortable salary package) and that’s totally fine (after all, not everybody needs to call themselves a startup).
Today is 30th. And tomorrow, all of *startup teams in corporates* will get that ‘salary credit’ SMS, while most of (early stage) founders will worry about their runway and the fuel left.
Somewhat related read : 78% Corporates Want To Work With Entrepreneurs; But Entrepreneurs Hold A Different View [Report]
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