A startup is a newly created company designed to grow quickly by solving a problem or meeting a need in a new way. Unlike a regular small business like a neighborhood bakery or hardware store, a startup aims to scale up rapidly, often using technology to reach millions of customers.

Think of it this way: opening a pizza restaurant is starting a business, but creating an app that helps thousands of restaurants manage their deliveries is launching a startup. The pizza restaurant might grow slowly and steadily over decades. The delivery app startup hopes to expand explosively, perhaps serving restaurants across the country within just a few years.

Startups usually begin with an idea and very little money. The founders often work from garages, apartments, or small offices, putting in long hours to build their product. They seek funding from investors who believe the company could become hugely successful. Many startups fail, but the successful ones can transform into major companies.

The word combines “start” and “up,” suggesting something just getting off the ground. When people talk about startup culture, they mean the energetic, risk-taking atmosphere where small teams work intensely to turn bold ideas into reality.