Stealth Startup Terms

Stealth Mode: A strategy employed by startups where they operate in secrecy to avoid drawing attention from competitors and the public, often to protect their ideas, technology, or business model until they are ready to launch.

Beta Testing: A phase of product development where a prototype or pre-release version of a product is tested by a limited audience outside the company to identify bugs and gather user feedback before the public launch.

Competitive Advantage: A condition or circumstance that puts a company in a favorable or superior business position compared to its competitors, often safeguarded during stealth mode.

Launch Strategy: The detailed plan outlining how a startup will introduce its product or service to the market, including marketing, distribution, and sales tactics, often meticulously planned during the stealth phase.

Market Entry: The strategy or plan for entering a new market with a product or service, including timing, target audience, and differentiation, typically refined during the stealth phase.

Minimum Viable Product (MVP): A simplified version of a product with just enough features to satisfy early customers and provide feedback for future development, often developed and tested discreetly in stealth startups.

Pre-Seed Funding: The initial capital raised to develop an idea and create a prototype or MVP, often acquired before the startup emerges from stealth mode.

Proof of Concept (PoC): A demonstration to verify that certain concepts or theories have the potential for real-world application, often developed during stealth mode to validate the feasibility of the startup's technology or idea.

Seed Round: The first official round of funding for a startup, used to support early-stage operations and development, typically following pre-seed funding and before exiting stealth mode.

Stealth Team: A small, often secretive group of employees or contractors working on a stealth startup, focusing on product development, market research, and strategic planning without public disclosure.

Unveil: The moment when a stealth startup publicly reveals its product, service, or business model, transitioning from a period of secrecy to market entry.