Eight years ago I was pitching VCs trying to raise money for Pardot. At one of the pitches we were asked about potential acquirers and the VC said something to the effect of “you don’t want to be the last one at the party without a partner” meaning the major acquirers are going to buy a startup in this space (marketing automation), and if our major competitors are acquired, the chance of us getting acquired goes way down.
That got me thinking about some of the startup sayings I’ve heard over the years:
- He’s an angel investor with deep pockets and alligator arms (meaning, his short arms can’t reach into his own pockets so he’s never going to invest)
- Don’t trade your cat for his dog (meaning, don’t sell your company for stock in another private company)
- Watch out for sharp elbows (meaning, the person is known for pushing people out of their way to get what they want)
- We eat our own dog food (meaning, we use our own product internally)
Startups, like all industries, have their own jargon and sayings. These are just a few of the sayings that I’ve heard.
What else? What are some more startup sayings?
David Cummings on Startups 
“Never underestimate the value of a cheap trick.”
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”