Ask HN: Company vs. Startup

[bo_Olean]

When you release more than one product does is become a company ? What is the actual difference between a company and a startup ?

[yurylifshits]

According to Steve Blank, a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.

A company is an organization that has found one.

[verelo]

Yeah, i agree with yurylifshits.

Side note: I get annoyed when a "company" continues to call themselves a startup because it sounds cool and trendy. If this is you, dont do it...

[bo_Olean → verelo]

What if we started as a service company which recently launched a product (with some sustainable business model)?

[zeynalov → verelo]

you mean when an organization is registered and has already a working business plan, they shouldn't call them a startup anymore?!

[verelo → zeynalov]

nah, just when a company has started becoming fairly profitable, been through a fair few funding rounds and existed for about 3-4 (or more in some cases) years...its time to accept while you might be cool (not trying to play it down), you /should/ no longer need to reply on calling yourself a start-up to attract hot talent to your "company".

[tcmb]

In a startup, the number of people who are coding exceeds the number of people who don't.