Startup Glossary

Hockey stick

Hockey stick represents a sudden growth followed by a long period of steady growth.
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Heat map

Heat map is a data visualization technique that displays visual cues in different colors. 
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Monetization

“Monetization is the action or process of earning revenue from an asset, business, etc.”
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Visionary

Visionary is a person that can envision the future. 
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Option pool

An option pool is an equity incentive for early investors or employees of a startup.
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Focus group

A focus group is a research technique applied with the aim to collect data through group interaction. 
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Machine learning

Machine learning is the study of computer programs that use algorithms and statistical models to learn through analysing data and drawing patterns from it. 
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Interaction design

Interaction design, also known as IxD, refers to the act of designing interactive digital products and services. 
read more

Network effect

Network effect is a concept based on the value that users get with every new user joining a service providing network or a marketplace.
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Acqui-hire

Acqui-hiring is a notion used to describe the process of acquiring a company to recruit their employees rather than to control their product. 
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Blue ocean

Blue Ocean is a concept that is used to describe a new, unexploited market with little to no competition or any obstacles that would stifle growth and innovation.
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B2B

B2B (business-to-business) is a business model that allows transactions between businesses. 
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Sweat equity

Sweat equity is a company’s stakeholders’ contribution towards the business in the form of non-paid labour. Also referred to as “stock for services”or “equity compensation”, this model enables founders to receive the expertise and services they need by signing off a portion of their company.
read more

Design thinking

“Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success."
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Accelerator

An accelerator is a support programme for early-stage businesses that offers financial support, as well as training and mentorship. 
read more

Agile development

Can you name 12 core principles that most of the various agile methods have in common?
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Full-stack developer

Full stack developer is a software developer who mastered a variety of skills and is able to use these skills to build a product independently. Typically that means they are skilled in both frontend and backend web development, while also working with databases, servers and clients. 
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Feature bloat

Feature bloat is a concept that describes incorporating too many features and functionalities into a product. Overloading a product with all the extra features, makes it unable to perform its core function. 
read more

Go-to market

Go-to market (GTM) is a step-by-step plan or a strategy where businesses use their resources (both inside and outside) to deliver their unique value proposition and gain competitive advantage. 
read more

Empathy map

Empathy maps are a great way to get to know your users.
read more

Rapid experimentation

Is rapid experimentation the right approach for your project or business?
read more

Tech debt

What consequences can compromises in tech development have for a company?
read more

Early adopter

Early adopter is a concept within the sociological model of Technology Adoption Curve that aims to describe how prone different segments of the population are towards embracing a new technology.
read more

Runway

Not as glamorous as planes and supermodels, but still a very important track in the livelihood of any startup. 
read more

Elevator pitch

If you only had 30 seconds, would you be able to present your idea or a product?
read more

Buyer persona

A buyer persona is a semi-fictional, researched-based representation of an ideal customer or target audience. It is not a real customer, but a profile depicting all the characteristics of an ideal, potential customer.
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Burn rate

What is a burn rate? How can you calculate it? What type of burn rate are investors interested in?
read more

Angel investor

Promising businesses often need a boost in which case they turn to angel investors.
read more

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an investment strategy whereby the investee aims to receive investments from a large number of individuals, rather than a smaller group of higher-stake investors.
read more

Problem-founder fit

‍Problem-founder fit is a concept inspired by Paul Graham’s blog “How to get startup ideas?” that goes agains the conventional wisdom of relying on industry experience when assessing founder’s chances of success with a new venture.
read more

Exit

The method by which a venture capitalist or business owner intends to get out of an investment that he or she has made in the past. In other words, the exit strategy is a way of “cashing out” an investment.
read more

Wizard of OZ MVP

A customer validation technique, one of high-fidelity types of MVPs, whereby the product team builds an illusion of a product but with key functionality carried out by a human (or 3rd party service), in order to validate it with real customers at low-cost and high velocity.
read more

Value proposition

A value proposition tells your customers why they should do business with you rather than your competitors, and makes the benefits of your products or services crystal clear from the outset.
read more
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Hockey stick

Hockey stick represents a sudden growth followed by a long period of steady growth.
Read more

Heat map

Heat map is a data visualization technique that displays visual cues in different colors. 
Read more

Monetization

“Monetization is the action or process of earning revenue from an asset, business, etc.”
Read more

Visionary

Visionary is a person that can envision the future. 
Read more

Option pool

An option pool is an equity incentive for early investors or employees of a startup.
Read more

Focus group

A focus group is a research technique applied with the aim to collect data through group interaction. 
Read more

Machine learning

Machine learning is the study of computer programs that use algorithms and statistical models to learn through analysing data and drawing patterns from it. 
Read more

Interaction design

Interaction design, also known as IxD, refers to the act of designing interactive digital products and services. 
Read more

Network effect

Network effect is a concept based on the value that users get with every new user joining a service providing network or a marketplace.
Read more

Acqui-hire

Acqui-hiring is a notion used to describe the process of acquiring a company to recruit their employees rather than to control their product. 
Read more

Blue ocean

Blue Ocean is a concept that is used to describe a new, unexploited market with little to no competition or any obstacles that would stifle growth and innovation.
Read more

B2B

B2B (business-to-business) is a business model that allows transactions between businesses. 
Read more

Sweat equity

Sweat equity is a company’s stakeholders’ contribution towards the business in the form of non-paid labour. Also referred to as “stock for services”or “equity compensation”, this model enables founders to receive the expertise and services they need by signing off a portion of their company.
Read more

Design thinking

“Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success."
Read more

Accelerator

An accelerator is a support programme for early-stage businesses that offers financial support, as well as training and mentorship. 
Read more

Agile development

Can you name 12 core principles that most of the various agile methods have in common?
Read more

Full-stack developer

Full stack developer is a software developer who mastered a variety of skills and is able to use these skills to build a product independently. Typically that means they are skilled in both frontend and backend web development, while also working with databases, servers and clients. 
Read more

Feature bloat

Feature bloat is a concept that describes incorporating too many features and functionalities into a product. Overloading a product with all the extra features, makes it unable to perform its core function. 
Read more

Go-to market

Go-to market (GTM) is a step-by-step plan or a strategy where businesses use their resources (both inside and outside) to deliver their unique value proposition and gain competitive advantage. 
Read more

Empathy map

Empathy maps are a great way to get to know your users.
Read more

Rapid experimentation

Is rapid experimentation the right approach for your project or business?
Read more

Tech debt

What consequences can compromises in tech development have for a company?
Read more

Early adopter

Early adopter is a concept within the sociological model of Technology Adoption Curve that aims to describe how prone different segments of the population are towards embracing a new technology.
Read more

Runway

Not as glamorous as planes and supermodels, but still a very important track in the livelihood of any startup. 
Read more

Elevator pitch

If you only had 30 seconds, would you be able to present your idea or a product?
Read more

Buyer persona

A buyer persona is a semi-fictional, researched-based representation of an ideal customer or target audience. It is not a real customer, but a profile depicting all the characteristics of an ideal, potential customer.
Read more

Burn rate

What is a burn rate? How can you calculate it? What type of burn rate are investors interested in?
Read more

Angel investor

Promising businesses often need a boost in which case they turn to angel investors.
Read more

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an investment strategy whereby the investee aims to receive investments from a large number of individuals, rather than a smaller group of higher-stake investors.
Read more

Problem-founder fit

‍Problem-founder fit is a concept inspired by Paul Graham’s blog “How to get startup ideas?” that goes agains the conventional wisdom of relying on industry experience when assessing founder’s chances of success with a new venture.
Read more

Exit

The method by which a venture capitalist or business owner intends to get out of an investment that he or she has made in the past. In other words, the exit strategy is a way of “cashing out” an investment.
Read more

Wizard of OZ MVP

A customer validation technique, one of high-fidelity types of MVPs, whereby the product team builds an illusion of a product but with key functionality carried out by a human (or 3rd party service), in order to validate it with real customers at low-cost and high velocity.
Read more

Value proposition

A value proposition tells your customers why they should do business with you rather than your competitors, and makes the benefits of your products or services crystal clear from the outset.
Read more