A startup is a young company founded by one or more [[🔎 Entrepreneur|entrepreneurs]] to develop a unique product or service and bring it to market. By its nature, it aims to fill a gap in the marketplace or address a specific need with an innovative solution. The essence of [[🔎 Entrepreneurship]] within a startup lies in [[innovation]], [[risk-taking]], and the pursuit of [[scalability]] and [[growth]] in a competitive environment, often operating within the technology, digital, or internet sectors. They typically seek external funding from [[venture capital]], [[angel investors]], or [[crowdfunding]] platforms to fuel their growth and expand operations. The ultimate goal of a startup is to rapidly grow its customer base and revenue, potentially leading to acquisitions by larger companies or an [[initial public offering (IPO)]] to become publicly traded.