To the casual observer, startups might seem like a new phenomenon. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the first known use of the word “start-up” dates back to 1845. Sure, it didn’t mean what it does now back then, but the basic connotation has been the same. The 1845 usage defines “start-up” as “the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion”. As you can see, the meaning hasn’t changed much since then, but the stakes are definitely higher when it comes to today’s definition of “ startups ”. Each and every field has a tipping point, a clear and concise point on its timeline that demarcates the field from its formative years to the year it burst into public consciousness. For astronomy, it was the heliocentric theory proposed by Copernicus. For physics, it was Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. For computers, it was the invention of the microchip. But when it comes to modern-day business, there is no such single defining moment. First came the barons and tyc...