Behind The Startup Starter Pack
What are the truths to startup cliches?
Tech media platform e27 reported that over 2000 startup profiles were created last year, raising a total of US$12.8B across 68 industry verticals. The Lion City has the traction of a mature startup ecosystem that allows promising ideas to thrive and scale. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made famous the phrase: “Move fast and break things.” This motto showcases the reputation of startups for being nimble and close-knit. They have been associated with disruptive technologies that require data-driven and rigorous A-B testing to deliver dynamic products and services.
Along with reputation come misconceptions: The Starter Pack.
These elements are likely traits of startup giants that have been replicated by newer companies to inspire the culture that fails fast and fails often. What do they really say about startups? How do these cliches reflect the differentiating qualities of a startup?
1. There is a never-ending supply of whiteboards and post-its.
Even the glass office walls are not exempted from hasty scribbles. This shows the speed and informal nature of discussions in startups. Inspiration hits at any time of day, and the best way to capture the fleeting thought is to write it down quickly. Having ideas written in the open not only invites more brains to stress test the feasibility but also illustrates the transparency within the office.
2. The dress code is company merch casual.
An easy way that tech companies market their product is to wear logo shirts. Such is the case for Binance’s Changpeng Zhao (though his clothing of choice is a comfy hoodie). The company shirt, although tacky to some, is a good example of the no-frills culture. Managing multiple scopes and meeting cross-functionally requires you to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. It’s easier to move around in cotton.
3. There’s a ping-pong table in the pantry.
Several tech giants were founded out of a garage (e.g., Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Disney and Hewlett-Packard) and one of the common fixtures in the space was a rusting ping-pong table that doubled as a dining table. Now, they are seen as staples in startup offices in general. The ping-pong table becomes a place for gathering and fun. This downtime helps employees to be inspired and manage stress. Google in particular has popularised the 20% time policy wherein employees can take up side projects according to their interests, as they can lead to innovative solutions for Google in the long run.
Is the Startup Starter Pack true? Well, they certainly aren’t baseless. The Starter Pack illustrates how important it is to build a culture that reaps the best results. In the case of disruptive startups, having a casual environment for employees allows inspiration and creativity to flourish. It is important for new entrants to build out the core values of the company from the very beginning:
- What is it that we want to do?
- What culture will it take to get there?
- What is our starter pack?
At Grounded, we want to help startups. We are launching a One Startup A Month Project, to help startups get funding and take them to the next level. With our team of experts, Grounded can provide a community, advice, connections and capital. We want to help you succeed!
Grounded is a multi-disciplinary blockchain development agency. Rooted in our beliefs that blockchain is built for the masses, we set out to disrupt the existing blockchain space with our creativity.
With every client and partnership, we aim to leave a mark on the industry through our philosophy — education, empowerment and excellence. As a young and energetic company, we have the capabilities to make the complex world of blockchain more understandable.
Want to find out more about startup culture or interested in starting your own company? Feel free to contact Grounded or check us out at the links below!
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