In 2021, the startup landscape looks much different than it did in 2000. For starters, there are more startups. The number of new companies that launched each year has increased 234% since 1990. And these are not just any old startups either; they’re some of the most innovative and successful organizations around! What’s behind this boom? Traditional business models have changed as globalization takes hold on a global scale, and technology changes our lives day by day. Damon Becnel discusses how the startup industry has changed over the past decade.
What is a Startup?
A startup company is any new business that has been in existence for less than five years, typically meaning it’s emerging from its infancy and hasn’t yet reached maturity. The term “startup” often refers to companies in high-tech industries such as information technology, biotech, social media, robotics, hardware manufacturing, etc. Still, it can also refer to enterprises that produce goods or provide services typical of more established firms (e.g., supermarkets). Entrepreneurs who are considering starting their businesses might want to start by looking at this list of qualifications/requirements:
- The entrepreneur must have an idea for a product or service and understands how to make it happen.
- The entrepreneur has the skills necessary to execute their plan and enough funding/capital to cover expenses while they’re getting started.
- An individual can’t be running more than one business at once unless they have permission from all of the other parties involved (which is rare).
Current Startup Trends
To stay competitive and capture market share, you need to be progressive with your strategies too – or get left behind quickly by your competitors. Here are three startup industry trends Damon Becnel sees coming into play for entrepreneurs:
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
MOOCs are online education courses that mix video lectures, exercises, and assessments. They provide an excellent way for startups to train their employees without incurring the cost of a physical location or hiring more staff members.
Employee-Owned Startups
Many people don’t want to work for someone else anymore; they prefer working independently with flexible hours and schedules while still being part of a company. Employee ownership gives these entrepreneurs this autonomy as well as equity in the startup!
Innovation Centers
As a result of globalization, many firms have not just moved overseas but relocated entire offices there too (sometimes called “nearshoring”). This means fewer resources on hand locally, so innovation centers come into play: they’re virtual locations where employees collaborate on new ideas, such as product development or marketing.
What Has Changed Over the Past Ten Years?
The startup landscape has changed a lot over the past ten years. From smartphones to innovation centers, here is what has changed in the startup industry over the last decade:
- In the early 2000s, Facebook had just been created. Now it’s one of the most used social media sites in the world.
- Google Maps was introduced to us all in 2008, with Google Earth and Street View added a few years later.
- The first iPhone came out in 2007 but didn’t make its way mainstream until 2010, when apps were released for purchase on iTunes. Today there is an app for everything from fitness trackers to language learning tools.
- Digital music has also changed over time, thanks to streaming services like Spotify or Pandora, which took hold since their introduction in 2006 and 2002. And if you need even more access to your favorite artists’ work? YouTube now offers 60 million songs to stream for free.
- Gmail has also changed a lot since it was first introduced in 2004, with the most significant change being that now emails are automatically archived and deleted after 30 days. This could be helpful if you’re trying to declutter your inbox or save storage space on your device.
Benefits of Being a Startup Company Today
When running a startup company, there are many benefits to being at the forefront of technology. Having an edge in innovation can be crucial for your success as it will help set you apart from competitors who may not have all of the latest tools and technologies at their disposal.
Access to New Technologies
Having access to new technologies or innovations allows startups to think outside the box, which is necessary to create something that’s never been done before – like what happened with Apple when Steve Jobs introduced us all to The iPhone ten years ago. Of course, new technologies can be costly for startups to buy. But fortunately, many free or discounted tools help them stay on the cutting edge of innovation without breaking their budgets.
Increased Productivity
Another benefit could be increased productivity because newer software makes tasks easier than older ones (think: Microsoft Word vs. Google Docs) while also providing more features and capabilities.
Investment Opportunities
Startups also have many opportunities open to them since they’re not as established in the marketplace yet, which means they might need less capital than an older company would because investors see more potential in newer businesses. And even if you do get funded by outside sources, your startup will often only require smaller investments, meaning it’s easier for business owners to maintain control over their own companies, which is usually much better for everyone involved.
The Startup Scene in 2022?
Damon Becnel believes that the startup industry is constantly evolving as advancements are made every day, so what will innovation centers (or incubators) look like in 2022? Many new programs have been popping up recently, thanks largely to funding from governments and private investors alike. Still, at this point, there’s no way of knowing where the industry will go next – which makes startups even more exciting than ever!
