Bootstrap is a word that irks me. A language that can compile itself. Or a startup that is self sufficient? Ok. But then some javascript framework. And a hundred other uses. What's up with that?
Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
41–50 of 52 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#42churn - for a recurring service the number of people who leave in a given time period. Also represented as a percentage of total customers at the beginning of the time period. related: leaky bucket.
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#43I compiled a jargon list when I did a summer internship in finance. They're less frequently used in startups (thank god) but I still hear them used by business types:
- Human capital: "People", often referring to your employees.
- Reach out: call or email.
- Leverage: Basically equivalent to "use". "We will leverage our human capital to generate exciting new products in this space." You should leverage this word as frequently as possible when talking to finance people.
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#44One of the most notable terms of the current start-up scenario is the variation of the term 'hacker'. The best example I can give you is 'Growth Hacker' (basically a marketing guy/girl who does some extra work). So many start-ups and marketing teams abuse this term so much that the value of a true hacker has become so vague. It was confusing at first. But later on, you get used to it..
I always thought Growth Hacker was an engineer who specialised in scaling a product (making sure the servers didn't fall down under load etc.) I guess the OP's cheat sheet could come in handy! :)
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#45Bootstrap is a word that irks me. A language that can compile itself. Or a startup that is self sufficient? Ok. But then some javascript framework. And a hundred other uses. What's up with that?
Bootstrap has always meant starting a business using your own money/resources. I guess that's why the Twitter guys named their framework it - you can get a website together to a decent standard without needing to pay for a designer (the 'bootstrap framework' helps you bootstrap a business).
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#46Bootstrap is a word that irks me. A language that can compile itself. Or a startup that is self sufficient? Ok. But then some javascript framework. And a hundred other uses. What's up with that?
The original meaning came from one of the stories of Baron Münchhausen where he supposedly fell into a bog but escaped by pulling himself up by his own bootstraps. So the basic concept of self-sufficiency gives you the meaning of bootstrapping a compiler, or your OS's bootstrap loader, or a bootstrapped startup. Stuff like Twitter Bootstrap does stretch the meaning somewhat (I guess the idea is that's it's an easy way to get started on your website).
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#47grin fucker http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/28/dont-be-a-grin...
That is such an apt phrase to describe certain people.
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#48My pet peeve is "resources". It is usually used to mean people (and not having enough of them), but somehow abstracts away the messy nature of humans by implying they are a commodity no different than other resources like iron or coal.
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#49I read some comments around here, and I don't get 50% of what you guys are saying.
So maybe, it's a good idea for someone to create a quick dictionary-like webapp to explain the startup lingo and/or HN lingo?
Re: Ask HN: What are some 'startup lingo' you didn't know before?
#50I'm fine with most of the terms and have come to accept them. The one that bugs the ever-lovin' $#!+ out of me is convo instead of conversation. I don't know if it wide spread and beyond start-ups, but it is the only place I've heard it.
I'm with you... add to it preso/prezo. Hate it so much.