innovator

Definition

A self-appointed visionary who had an idea first or adopted one early; startup world's favorite honorific for anyone owning three blockchain apps and genuine FOMO.

Example Usage

She branded herself an innovator after being among the first hundred thousand users of ChatGPT.

Source: Common startup and business terminology

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memo culture

The internal practice at VC firms of writing detailed investment memos that analyze potential deals. Where partners commit their hottest takes to writing so they can be mocked later when wrong.

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LTV (Lifetime Value)

The total revenue you expect from one customer during their entire relationship with your company—usually wildly overestimated.

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biotechnology

The industry dedicated to using living organisms and biological systems to create products, solve problems, and generally play god in the most profitable way possible. It's where biology meets engineering meets venture capital, resulting in everything from life-saving drugs to designer yeast that makes better beer. Think of it as science's entrepreneurial phase, where petri dishes can lead to IPOs.

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investor

Someone who gives you money in exchange for a piece of your company, future profits, or the thrill of watching their capital evaporate. They're either your best friend or worst nightmare, depending on whether your quarterly numbers are trending upward. In startup land, they're the people whose calls you always take.

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tooling

Shaping materials with specialized equipment, or—in startup-speak—'getting the factory ready before we realize we can't afford it.' The expensive setup phase nobody budgets correctly for.

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post-money valuation

Company valuation after investment capital is added, the number founders brag about while carefully omitting the 'post-money' qualifier. What your company is theoretically worth with someone else's money included.

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