Item — HN Reader

When does a startup stop being a startup? When they reach a certain age, or reach a certain revenue, or when they go public/get acquired?

I know there is probably a more technical definition, but when do they cross that line in real terms as it relates to the risks and pains of working at a startup, like this article mentions?

1 comments

A couple features of start-ups:

1. Many-hat-wearing. People adapt to the jobs that need to get done, and there is little or no supervisory hierarchy.

2. Possibility of exponential growth.

I'd say if both of those things vanish, then it's either because the business failed, or stopped being a start-up and is now a mature business.