# What is a startup? * A startup is a group of people who have proprietary insights because they have 'lived in the future' * [To become a company, a startup must achieve 3 or 4 crucial breakthroughs](https://youtu.be/EgYxeca6xbc?t=381): * They have to have a break through insight * They have to have a breakthrough value proposition * They have to have a breakthrough killer predictable growth strategy * These all require capabilities ### Motivation Mike maples best motivators are ones who make the audience feel like the protagonist (from the above podcast). VC at floodgate.