Determining the birth of a startup

Sep27

Determining the birth of a startup

Business

Many people consider September 7, 1998, the day Google was incorporated, to be it's birthday. Google has a birthday logo on its home page today as well as a blog post about the the company's birthday.

When is the born on date of a startup? When you first file papers of incorporation? When you move into your first company-specific office? When you hire your first employee? When you close your first deal?

I consider the birth of a startup to be the first time you solve the problem you set out to solve. It might be the first time your software did what it was supposed to do, or the first time you closed a sale if you are a services business. What do you think?

Tags: google, startup

Posted on September 27, 2005 at 11:54AM
Updated at 11:55AM
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Comments [5]
By Niall Kennedy, a web technologist from
San Francisco, California, United States

5 Comments

Commentary on "Determining the birth of a startup":

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Kevin Burton on September 27, 2005 at 1:56 PM wrote: #

> I consider the birth of a startup to be the first time you solve the problem you set out to solve. Does this mean that Technorati isn't a startup?! JOKE! :)
ryan king on September 27, 2005 at 4:58 PM wrote: #

The first time you stay up all night worknig because you've had a Eureka! moment.
regina on September 28, 2005 at 5:00 AM wrote: #

The day you go live with customers.
Jazzpants on September 28, 2005 at 4:59 PM wrote: #

I vote for the legal definition -- when you first file papers. I would definitely NOT work for a company unless I know it's legally a business...even/especially if I'll be working with a good friend. >:-)>
Kevin Bjorke on September 28, 2005 at 10:48 PM wrote: #

Nah, just do it like the Queen does it -- pick an arbitrary day, preferably one on a weekend. It suits the imperial tendency.