In a WSJ column today, Steve Blank identifies six types of startups and PSA fits right into the grouping. Maybe you should begin calling yourselves entrepreneurs!
His categories are:
- Lifestyle (that’s me the surfer)
- Small Business (think LC families)
- Scalable Startups (what every VC wants)
- Buyable Startups (take the millions and run)
- Social Starups (hello PSA!)
- Large-Company Startups (Tempo)
Desert surfing on your maglev board…free and passion powered across the disruption landscape.
PSA probably a combo startup…as we are kind of viral…invading and redirecting existing cells to produce more of our good stuff. We are chameleons too, because in certain groups it’s better to be entrepreneurs, and with others non profiteers.
But yes, Steve has described a fitting category for PSA, and you have appropriately slotted us into it. There’s something reassuring about being in a “known category”. =^)
Although Steve needs to perhaps put a caveat in there, that one type of startup can evolve into another kind. Or so it seems to me.
One more thing. Silcon Valley, Steve Jobs, etc, motto is changing the world and making a difference through the technology. Even though that’s placed by Steve Blank in the Social startup, it’s an ironic contrast that the big scalable startups will probably talk somewhere in their mission statement about making a difference through tech.
So, what type of startup was Facebook? or Twitter? or Tumblr? Recent New Yorker article by Packer was all about the distinction between the “we are political because our products make a difference” viewpoint in leaders of computer tech…and what is considered more active or more “real involvement” by political types like Green…
The discussion mode in the Udacity MOOC for Building a Start Up, introduces many social entrepreneurs. The goal to “Make a difference” attracts the learners, and the Steve Blank model suggests an effective business based approach to reach that goal.
The discussion mode in the Udacity MOOC for Building a Start Up, introduces many social entrepreneurs. The goal to “Make a difference” attracts the learners, and the Steve Blank model suggests an effective business based approach to reach that goal.