Start-up is a catchword, a buzz-word, an on-target concept: it was almost unknown fifteen years ago. Now you can find it in any newspaper and the term is on everyone’s lips.
« My son is in two minds about whether to become an engineer or to create a start- up next month, so as to become very rich”; “What, you only raised a million euros in the second round? That’s no good! »
« My dear colleagues, the objective this year is to buy two start-ups, their value isn’t important, but we have to please our shareholders »
« I’m opening a private school training people to become start-up coaches, the first session is already overbooked ! ».
An opportunity and a threat are hiding behind this social phenomenon.
The opportunity is that the young, and notO so young, can find out about entrepreneurship, learning on the ground how to speak to financiers, manage teams, convince clients, confront challenges. And what it takes to grow, to be profitable, scalable, a nugget or a unicorn, or just to create their own employment (demonstrating a new work relationship – more independence, no hierarchy). And too bad if some fail, the experience will have been one of a kind, beneficial, maybe making some want to start again one day.
The threat is the profit which numerous vultures will try to extract from them. Consequently, it is necessary to regulate the ecosystem, so that the situation that existed during the days of the Gold Rush doesn’t repeat itself, when sellers of spades became richer than gold prospectors !
Olivier De Wasseige
Managing Director of the UWE
