What is a startup really?

Does a startup inside a big company even make sense?

Sometimes I can come in too strong. For example, last week I tried to argue against a statement someone tweeted about startups. He suggested that if any team says “we’re a startup inside a big company”, they almost always fail. I disagree.

Yes, that team could certainly fail. About 90% of startups also fail eventually. I understand the sentiment though. I have spent time in both startups and in big companies and teams that think they are a startup in a big company often…