295+ Terms Reference

Entrepreneurship Glossary

Clear definitions of essential entrepreneurship and business terms. Use this reference to explore 295+ curated terms.

A

Angel Investor

An angel investor is an individual who invests personal funds in early-stage startups in exchange for equity or convertible debt. Angel investors often provide mentorship, industry knowledge, and professional networks in addition to financial support.

AI Assistant

An AI assistant is an artificial intelligence application that helps users complete tasks through natural language interactions. AI assistants can answer questions, generate content, summarize information, schedule activities, analyze data, and automate business workflows.

Analytics

Analytics is the process of collecting, measuring, and analyzing data to gain insights into business performance, customer behavior, and operational efficiency. Businesses use analytics to improve decision-making, identify trends, and support business growth.

Automation

Automation is the use of technology to perform repetitive tasks or business processes with minimal human intervention. Businesses use automation to improve efficiency, reduce errors, save time, and increase productivity across operations, marketing, customer service, and manufacturing.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is the total predictable revenue a subscription-based business expects to generate from recurring customer subscriptions over a 12-month period. ARR excludes one-time fees and is commonly used by Software as a Service (SaaS) companies to measure long-term business growth.

Angel Syndicate

An angel syndicate is a group of angel investors who combine their capital to invest in a startup. By investing together, syndicate members can support larger funding rounds, share investment risks, and benefit from the expertise of experienced lead investors.

Assets

Assets are resources owned or controlled by a business that have economic value and are expected to provide future benefits. Common examples include cash, inventory, equipment, property, investments, and accounts receivable.

Application Programming Interface (API)

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other. APIs enable developers to integrate services, automate workflows, and build connected applications.

Acquisition

An acquisition is a business transaction in which one company purchases another company or a controlling interest in it. Acquisitions are commonly used to expand market share, gain new technologies, acquire talent, or enter new markets.

Average Order Value (AOV)

Average Order Value (AOV) is the average amount a customer spends in a single purchase. It is calculated by dividing total revenue by the total number of orders and is commonly used to measure sales performance in eCommerce.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model in which individuals or businesses earn a commission for promoting another company's products or services. Affiliates receive compensation when their referrals generate sales, leads, or other predefined actions.

AI Agent

An AI agent is an artificial intelligence system that can perform tasks, make decisions, and interact with users or other systems with minimal human intervention. AI agents can analyze information, execute workflows, use software tools, and complete multi-step tasks to achieve specific goals.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science that enables machines and software to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, language understanding, and decision-making. AI is widely used in automation, data analysis, customer service, healthcare, and business applications.

Accelerator

A startup accelerator is a fixed-term program that helps early-stage startups grow through mentorship, business training, networking, and access to investors. Many accelerators also provide seed funding in exchange for equity and conclude with a demo day where startups present to potential investors.

B

Brand Identity

Brand identity is the collection of visual, verbal, and emotional elements that represent a brand. It includes components such as the brand name, logo, colors, typography, messaging, and design style that help customers recognize and distinguish the brand from competitors.

Business Intelligence (BI)

Business Intelligence (BI) is the process of collecting, analyzing, and presenting business data to support informed decision-making. Business intelligence uses reports, dashboards, and data visualization tools to identify trends, measure performance, and improve business operations.

Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA)

The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) is a government organization responsible for developing and managing hi-tech parks and technology parks in Bangladesh. Its objective is to support the growth of the information technology, software, electronics, and innovation sectors by providing infrastructure and investment opportunities.

Business Ethics

Business ethics refers to the principles and standards that guide responsible, honest, and fair business conduct in relationships with customers, employees, partners, and society.

Business Governance

Business governance is the framework of policies, processes, and responsibilities used to direct, manage, and oversee an organization's operations and decision-making.

Brand Positioning

Brand positioning is the process of establishing a unique and desirable perception of a brand in the minds of its target audience relative to competing brands.

Business Sustainability

Business sustainability is the ability of a business to achieve long-term success while balancing economic performance, environmental responsibility, and social impact. Sustainable businesses focus on creating lasting value through responsible operations, ethical practices, and efficient use of resources.

Branding

Branding is the process of creating and managing a unique identity for a business, product, or service. It includes elements such as a brand's name, logo, messaging, visual identity, values, and customer experience to build recognition, trust, and loyalty.

Brand Loyalty

Brand loyalty is a customer's consistent preference for purchasing products or services from the same brand despite the availability of competing alternatives.

Business Proposal

A business proposal is a formal document that outlines a product, service, or solution offered to a prospective client or partner. It explains the business need, proposed approach, pricing, timeline, and expected outcomes to help secure new business opportunities.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is a payment option that allows customers to purchase products immediately and pay for them over time through scheduled installments. Depending on the provider and agreement, BNPL plans may be interest-free or include financing charges.

Business Development

Business development is the process of identifying growth opportunities through partnerships, customer acquisition, market expansion, strategic planning, and relationship building to increase business revenue and long-term success.

Business Operations

Business operations refer to the day-to-day activities required to manage and run a business efficiently. These activities may include production, sales, marketing, customer support, finance, human resources, and supply chain management.

Business-to-Business (B2B)

Business-to-Business (B2B) refers to commercial transactions where one business sells products or services to another business. Common B2B examples include software providers, manufacturers, wholesalers, consulting firms, and business service companies.

Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is the level of recognition and familiarity that consumers have with a brand. High brand awareness means people can identify or recall a business, product, or service when making purchasing decisions.

Blue Ocean Strategy

Blue Ocean Strategy is a business approach that focuses on creating new market opportunities with little or no competition instead of competing in existing markets. The goal is to deliver unique value while making competitors less relevant by serving unmet customer needs.

Business Transformation

Business transformation is the process of making significant changes to a company's operations, business model, technology, or organizational structure to improve performance and adapt to changing market conditions.

Business Strategy

A business strategy is a long-term plan that defines how a company will achieve its goals, compete in the market, allocate resources, and create sustainable competitive advantages.

Bangladesh Bank

Bangladesh Bank is the central bank of Bangladesh. It is responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, regulating banks and financial institutions, maintaining financial stability, managing foreign exchange reserves, and issuing the country's currency.

Business Ecosystem

A business ecosystem is a network of businesses, suppliers, customers, partners, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders that interact to create and deliver value within an industry or market.

Break-even Point

The break-even point is the level of sales or revenue at which a business's total revenue equals its total costs, resulting in neither profit nor loss. Once a business exceeds the break-even point, additional sales generally contribute to profit.

Business Process

A business process is a structured series of activities or tasks performed to achieve a specific business objective. Business processes help organizations improve efficiency, maintain consistency, reduce costs, and deliver products or services effectively.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is the government agency responsible for promoting and facilitating private investment in Bangladesh. BIDA supports both local and foreign investors by providing investment services, policy guidance, business facilitation, and information about investment opportunities.

Benchmarking

Benchmarking is the process of comparing a business's performance, processes, or practices against industry standards or leading competitors to identify opportunities for improvement.

Business Forecasting

Business forecasting is the process of estimating future business performance based on historical data, market trends, and economic conditions. Forecasts help organizations plan budgets, manage resources, and make strategic decisions.

Business Intelligence Dashboard

A business intelligence dashboard is a digital interface that presents key business metrics, reports, and visualizations to help organizations monitor performance and support data-driven decision-making.

Business Model

A business model explains how a company creates, delivers, and captures value. It defines the products or services offered, target customers, revenue sources, cost structure, and the overall strategy for generating profit.

Business-to-Consumer (B2C)

Business-to-Consumer (B2C) refers to businesses that sell products or services directly to individual consumers. Retail stores, eCommerce websites, restaurants, and subscription services are common examples of B2C businesses.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is the practice of contracting specific business operations to a third-party service provider. Organizations commonly outsource functions such as customer service, payroll, human resources, finance, and technical support.

Business Resilience

Business resilience is a company's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions while maintaining essential operations and adapting to changing business conditions.

Burn Rate

Burn rate is the rate at which a startup or business spends its available cash before becoming profitable or generating sufficient positive cash flow. It is commonly used to estimate how long a company can continue operating with its current financial resources.

Business Audit

A business audit is a systematic review of a company's financial records, operations, processes, or compliance to evaluate performance, identify risks, and ensure adherence to internal policies and legal requirements.

Brand Equity

Brand equity is the value a brand gains from customer recognition, trust, reputation, and loyalty. Strong brand equity can increase customer preference, support premium pricing, improve market competitiveness, and contribute to long-term business success.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC)

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is the government regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the country's capital markets. BSEC regulates securities, stock exchanges, listed companies, and market participants to promote transparency, investor protection, and fair market practices.

bKash

bKash is a mobile financial service (MFS) provider in Bangladesh that allows individuals and businesses to send and receive money, make payments, pay bills, recharge mobile phones, and complete other financial transactions using a mobile wallet or the bKash app.

Business Automation

Business automation is the use of technology to perform repetitive business tasks with minimal human intervention. Automation helps improve efficiency, reduce errors, lower operational costs, and increase productivity.

Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping is the practice of starting and growing a business using personal savings, operating revenue, or limited external funding instead of relying on investors or large loans. Many early-stage startups use bootstrapping to maintain ownership and financial control.

Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA)

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is the government agency responsible for developing, managing, and promoting economic zones across Bangladesh. BEZA works to attract domestic and foreign investment by providing industrial infrastructure and creating a business-friendly investment environment.

Business Diversification

Business diversification is a growth strategy in which a company expands into new products, services, industries, or markets beyond its existing business activities. Diversification helps reduce business risk by creating multiple sources of revenue.

Balance Sheet

A balance sheet is a financial statement that shows a company's assets, liabilities, and owners' equity at a specific point in time. It provides an overview of the business's financial position and overall financial health.

Business Plan

A business plan is a structured document that outlines a company's goals, target market, products or services, marketing strategy, operational plan, financial projections, and growth objectives. It serves as a roadmap for managing and expanding a business.

Business-to-Government (B2G)

Business-to-Government (B2G) is a business model in which companies sell products or services to government agencies, public institutions, or government-owned organizations. Common examples include public infrastructure projects, software solutions, consulting services, and government procurement contracts.

Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a documented strategy that helps a business continue operating during unexpected disruptions such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, equipment failures, or other emergencies.

Business Expansion

Business expansion is the process of growing a business by increasing its products, services, markets, locations, customer base, or operational capacity. Businesses expand to increase revenue, reach new customers, and strengthen their competitive position.

C

Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)

Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) is a marketing metric that measures the average cost of acquiring one customer or conversion. It is calculated by dividing the total marketing or advertising spend by the number of successful acquisitions during a specific period.

Cash Flow

Cash flow is the movement of money into and out of a business over a specific period. Positive cash flow means more money is coming in than going out, while negative cash flow indicates that expenses exceed incoming cash.

Corporate Strategy

Corporate strategy is a long-term plan that defines how an organization allocates resources, manages multiple business units, and pursues growth to achieve its overall business objectives.

Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)

Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) is a metric that measures how satisfied customers are with a product, service, or specific interaction. Businesses typically measure CSAT using customer surveys and feedback to evaluate service quality and identify areas for improvement.

Customer Engagement

Customer engagement is the ongoing interaction between a business and its customers through communication, products, services, or experiences that strengthen relationships and encourage long-term loyalty.

Customer Acquisition Rate

Customer acquisition rate measures how quickly a business gains new customers during a specific period. It helps businesses evaluate the effectiveness of their sales and marketing efforts and monitor business growth.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is the estimated total revenue a business expects to earn from a customer throughout the entire relationship. CLV helps businesses make informed decisions about customer acquisition, retention, and long-term marketing investments.

Circular Economy

A circular economy is an economic model that emphasizes reducing waste by designing products and systems that promote reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling. The goal is to maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact.

Customer Retention Rate

Customer retention rate is the percentage of customers a business retains over a specific period. A high retention rate indicates that customers continue purchasing or using the company's products or services, reflecting strong customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Customer Loyalty

Customer loyalty is the tendency of customers to continue purchasing from or engaging with a business over time because of positive experiences, satisfaction, or trust.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, software, and data from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, malware, and other digital threats. Effective cybersecurity helps businesses safeguard sensitive information, maintain business continuity, and reduce security risks.

Customer Retention

Customer retention is the ability of a business to keep existing customers over time by delivering value, building relationships, and encouraging repeat purchases. Strong customer retention can improve customer lifetime value and reduce the need for constant new customer acquisition.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a business approach that integrates ethical practices, environmental responsibility, and social contributions into a company's operations. CSR initiatives aim to create positive impacts for customers, employees, communities, and the environment.

Capacity Planning

Capacity planning is the process of determining the resources, workforce, equipment, and production capabilities needed to meet current and future business demand efficiently.

Customer Experience (CX)

Customer Experience (CX) refers to a customer's overall perception of a business based on every interaction before, during, and after purchasing its products or services. A positive customer experience helps improve satisfaction, loyalty, and long-term business growth.

Change Management

Change management is the structured process of planning, implementing, and supporting organizational changes while minimizing disruption. It helps businesses adapt to new technologies, market conditions, business strategies, or operational improvements.

Customer Retention Cost (CRC)

Customer Retention Cost (CRC) is the total cost a business incurs to retain existing customers over a specific period. It includes expenses related to customer support, loyalty programs, account management, and retention marketing.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a strategy that attracts and engages a target audience by creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content. Common content formats include articles, guides, videos, podcasts, infographics, and newsletters that help educate customers and build trust.

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is the direct cost incurred to produce or purchase the goods sold by a business during a specific period. It typically includes materials, labor, and manufacturing expenses.

Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that protects original creative works, including books, articles, music, photographs, videos, software, artwork, and other forms of expression. Copyright gives the creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and license the work, subject to applicable laws.

Customer Success

Customer success is a business strategy focused on helping customers achieve their desired outcomes while using a product or service. Customer success teams provide onboarding, education, guidance, and ongoing support to improve customer satisfaction, retention, and long-term value.

Company Culture

Company culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and working environment that shape how employees interact and perform within an organization. A positive company culture can improve employee satisfaction, collaboration, productivity, and retention.

Churn Rate

Churn rate is the percentage of customers, subscribers, or users who stop using a product or service during a specific period. Businesses monitor churn rate to measure customer retention and identify opportunities to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal interests, relationships, or financial benefits could influence their professional decisions or responsibilities.

Competitive Advantage

A competitive advantage is a characteristic, capability, or strategy that enables a business to outperform its competitors. Competitive advantages may come from lower costs, product innovation, superior customer service, strong branding, technology, or operational efficiency.

Convertible Note

A convertible note is a short-term debt instrument that converts into equity during a future funding round instead of being repaid in cash. Startups commonly use convertible notes to raise early-stage capital before determining the company's valuation.

Consumer Behavior

Consumer behavior is the study of how individuals make decisions about purchasing, using, and evaluating products or services based on personal, social, cultural, and economic factors.

Corporate Governance

Corporate governance is the system of rules, policies, and processes used to direct and oversee a company. It defines the responsibilities of shareholders, directors, and management while promoting accountability, transparency, ethical business practices, and long-term organizational success.

Cash on Delivery (COD)

Cash on Delivery (COD) is a payment method in which customers pay for goods at the time they are delivered rather than paying in advance. COD is widely used in eCommerce, particularly in markets where customers prefer to pay after receiving their orders.

Conversion Rate

Conversion rate is the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or submitting a contact form. It is calculated by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of visitors or users.

Compliance Management

Compliance management is the process of ensuring that a business follows applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies through ongoing monitoring, training, and risk management.

Core Competency

A core competency is a unique combination of skills, knowledge, technologies, or capabilities that gives a business a competitive advantage. Core competencies help organizations deliver value to customers and differentiate themselves from competitors.

Competitive Analysis

Competitive analysis is the process of evaluating competitors to understand their products, pricing, strengths, weaknesses, market position, and business strategies. Businesses use competitive analysis to identify opportunities, improve their offerings, and develop strategies that create a competitive advantage.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing approach to enhancing products, services, and business processes through regular evaluation, feedback, and incremental changes. The goal is to improve quality, efficiency, customer satisfaction, and long-term business performance.

Cost Leadership

Cost leadership is a competitive strategy in which a business seeks to become the lowest-cost producer within its industry while maintaining acceptable product or service quality.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a fundraising method where many individuals contribute small amounts of money to support a business, product, or project through online platforms. Depending on the platform, contributors may receive rewards, equity, products, or simply support the initiative.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the practice of managing interactions with current and potential customers throughout the customer lifecycle. Businesses often use CRM software to organize customer information, track sales activities, improve customer service, and strengthen long-term relationships.

Cap Table

A capitalization table, commonly called a cap table, is a document that records a company's ownership structure. It shows shareholders, equity percentages, stock options, convertible securities, and how ownership changes after investment or financing rounds.

Corporate Entrepreneurship

Corporate entrepreneurship, also known as intrapreneurship, is the practice of developing new products, services, business models, or ventures within an established organization. It encourages innovation and entrepreneurial thinking while leveraging the company's existing resources and capabilities.

Chatbot

A chatbot is a software application that simulates conversations with users through text or voice. Modern chatbots often use artificial intelligence to answer questions, provide customer support, guide users through processes, and automate routine interactions.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services such as servers, storage, databases, networking, and software over the internet. It allows businesses to access technology resources on demand without owning or maintaining physical infrastructure.

Customer Acquisition

Customer acquisition is the process of attracting and converting new customers through marketing, advertising, referrals, partnerships, or sales activities. Businesses measure customer acquisition to evaluate the effectiveness and cost of their growth strategies.

D

Decision Support System (DSS)

A Decision Support System (DSS) is a computer-based information system that analyzes business data and provides insights to help managers and decision-makers evaluate options and make informed decisions.

Direct-to-Consumer (D2C)

Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) is a business model where a company sells its products directly to customers without relying on wholesalers, distributors, or traditional retail stores. D2C businesses typically use their own websites, mobile apps, or branded stores to manage customer relationships, sales, and fulfillment.

Demand Forecasting

Demand forecasting is the process of estimating future customer demand for products or services using historical data, market trends, and business insights.

Design Thinking

Design thinking is a human-centered problem-solving approach that focuses on understanding user needs, generating ideas, building prototypes, and testing solutions. Businesses use design thinking to develop innovative products, improve customer experiences, and solve complex challenges.

Dashboard

A dashboard is a visual interface that displays key business metrics, reports, and performance indicators in one place. Dashboards help business owners and managers monitor operations, track goals, and make informed decisions using real-time or historical data.

Differentiation Strategy

A differentiation strategy is a business approach that focuses on offering unique products, services, or customer experiences that distinguish a company from its competitors.

Distributor

A distributor is a business that purchases products from manufacturers and supplies them to retailers, wholesalers, or other businesses. Distributors help manufacturers expand their market reach by managing inventory, logistics, and regional sales.

Dilution

Dilution is the reduction in an existing shareholder's ownership percentage when a company issues new shares to raise capital or grant equity. While dilution decreases ownership percentages, it may also increase the company's overall value if the new investment supports business growth.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is the practice of promoting products, services, or brands through online channels such as search engines, websites, social media, email, mobile apps, and digital advertising. It helps businesses attract, engage, and convert customers using measurable marketing strategies.

Due Diligence

Due diligence is the process of evaluating a business before making an investment, acquisition, or partnership decision. It includes reviewing financial records, legal documents, operations, market potential, technology, intellectual property, and business risks.

Decision-Making

Decision-making is the process of evaluating available information, considering alternatives, and selecting the most appropriate course of action to achieve business objectives. Effective decision-making helps organizations solve problems, manage risks, and seize new opportunities.

Data Analytics

Data analytics is the process of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data to identify patterns, measure performance, and support better business decisions. Organizations use data analytics to improve operations, understand customer behavior, and identify growth opportunities.

Delegation

Delegation is the process of assigning responsibilities and decision-making authority to employees or team members while maintaining overall accountability. Effective delegation improves productivity, develops employee skills, and enables leaders to focus on higher-priority work.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an eCommerce business model in which a retailer sells products without keeping inventory. When a customer places an order, the retailer forwards it to a supplier, who ships the product directly to the customer.

E

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying business opportunities, creating innovative solutions, and building a business that delivers value to customers. It involves taking calculated risks, managing resources, and growing a venture to achieve long-term goals.

Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is an individual who starts, manages, and grows a business by identifying opportunities, developing products or services, and taking financial or operational risks. Entrepreneurs may found startups, small businesses, or larger companies across various industries.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is a government organization that promotes Bangladesh's exports in international markets. EPB supports exporters by organizing trade fairs, providing market information, facilitating international trade opportunities, and helping businesses expand their export activities.

Exit Multiple

An exit multiple is a financial metric used to estimate a company's value at the time of an acquisition or other exit event. It is typically calculated by multiplying a financial measure, such as revenue or earnings, by an industry-specific valuation multiple.

E-commerce

E-commerce, or electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of products or services over the internet. It includes online stores, digital marketplaces, mobile commerce, online payments, and other technologies that enable businesses and customers to conduct commercial transactions electronically.

Economies of Scale

Economies of scale are cost advantages that businesses achieve as production increases, allowing the average cost per unit to decrease through greater operational efficiency.

Employee Onboarding

Employee onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into an organization by providing the knowledge, resources, training, and support they need to become productive and successful in their roles.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is the practice of sending targeted emails to prospects or customers to build relationships, promote products or services, share updates, and encourage conversions. It is commonly used for newsletters, promotional campaigns, customer retention, and marketing automation.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is an employee benefit program that grants eligible employees ownership in a company through shares or stock options. ESOPs are commonly used to attract, reward, and retain talent while aligning employee interests with the company's long-term success.

Employee Retention

Employee retention refers to an organization's ability to keep employees over time by creating a positive work environment, offering career development opportunities, providing competitive compensation, and maintaining employee satisfaction.

Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is the level of commitment, motivation, and emotional connection employees have with their work and organization. Highly engaged employees are more likely to contribute positively, remain productive, and support the company's long-term success.

Equity

Equity represents ownership in a company. Founders, employees, and investors may own equity, which gives them a share of the business and, in some cases, voting rights or a portion of future profits.

Exit Strategy

An exit strategy is a founder's or investor's plan for selling or transferring ownership of a business. Common exit strategies include acquisitions, mergers, management buyouts, or an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

F

Fulfillment

Fulfillment is the process of receiving, processing, packing, and delivering customer orders. It includes inventory storage, order picking, packaging, shipping, and handling returns to ensure customers receive their purchases efficiently.

FinTech

Financial technology (FinTech) refers to the use of technology to improve, automate, and deliver financial products and services. FinTech solutions include digital payments, mobile banking, online lending, investment platforms, digital wallets, and financial management software that make financial services more accessible and efficient.

Feasibility Study

A feasibility study is an evaluation conducted to determine whether a proposed business idea, project, or investment is practical and financially viable. It examines factors such as market demand, technical requirements, operational capability, and financial risks.

Founder-Market Fit

Founder-Market Fit describes the alignment between a founder's experience, skills, knowledge, and passion and the market they are building for. A strong founder-market fit suggests that the founder has a deep understanding of customer problems and is well positioned to build a successful business in that industry.

Feature Prioritization

Feature prioritization is the process of evaluating and ranking product features based on factors such as customer value, business impact, development effort, and strategic goals. It helps product teams focus resources on delivering the most valuable improvements first.

Franchise

A franchise is a business model in which a franchisor grants another party the right to operate a business using its brand, products, systems, and business model in exchange for fees or royalties.

G

Go-to-Market Fit

Go-to-Market Fit is the stage where a company's marketing, sales, pricing, distribution, and customer acquisition strategies effectively align with its target market. Achieving go-to-market fit enables a business to consistently acquire customers and scale its growth efficiently.

Gross Margin

Gross margin is a financial metric that measures the percentage of revenue remaining after subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS). It indicates how efficiently a business produces or delivers its products or services before accounting for operating expenses.

Growth Hacking

Growth hacking is a marketing approach that uses rapid experimentation, data analysis, product improvements, and creative strategies to achieve business growth. It focuses on identifying scalable and cost-effective methods for acquiring, engaging, and retaining customers.

Generative AI

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content such as text, images, audio, video, or computer code based on user prompts and learned patterns from existing data. Businesses use generative AI to improve productivity, automate content creation, support software development, and enhance customer experiences.

Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)

Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is the total value of goods or services sold through a marketplace or eCommerce platform over a specific period before deducting returns, discounts, shipping costs, or platform fees. GMV is commonly used to measure sales activity on online marketplaces.

Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy

A Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy is a plan for launching a product or service and reaching target customers. It typically includes market positioning, pricing, marketing channels, sales strategy, customer acquisition, and launch activities.

Gross Profit Margin

Gross profit margin is the percentage of revenue remaining after subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS). It measures how efficiently a business produces or delivers its products or services before accounting for operating expenses and taxes.

H

Human Resources (HR)

Human Resources (HR) is the business function responsible for managing an organization's workforce. HR oversees activities such as recruitment, employee onboarding, training, compensation, performance management, workplace policies, employee relations, and compliance with labor laws.

I

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a marketing strategy where businesses collaborate with individuals who have an engaged audience on social media or other digital platforms to promote products, services, or brands. Influencers help increase brand awareness, trust, and customer engagement.

Income Statement

An income statement, also known as a profit and loss (P&L) statement, is a financial report that summarizes a company's revenue, expenses, and profit or loss over a specific accounting period. It helps evaluate business performance and profitability.

Inventory Management

Inventory management is the process of tracking, organizing, and controlling a business's stock of products or materials. Effective inventory management helps maintain optimal stock levels, reduce costs, prevent shortages, and improve operational efficiency.

Incubator

A startup incubator is an organization that supports early-stage businesses by providing workspace, mentorship, training, networking opportunities, and business resources. Unlike accelerators, incubators often have flexible program durations and typically focus on helping founders develop and validate their business ideas.

Innovation

Innovation is the process of creating or improving products, services, business models, or processes to deliver greater value, solve customer problems, or gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the process through which a private company offers its shares to the public for the first time on a stock exchange. An IPO enables a company to raise capital from public investors and become a publicly traded business.

Internal Audit

An internal audit is an independent evaluation conducted within an organization to assess internal controls, risk management practices, operational efficiency, and compliance with company policies and regulations.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind that are legally protected, such as inventions, trademarks, copyrights, designs, trade secrets, and creative works. Intellectual property rights allow creators and businesses to control how their work is used and commercially exploited.

Inventory Turnover

Inventory turnover is a financial metric that measures how many times a business sells and replaces its inventory during a specific period. A higher inventory turnover generally indicates efficient inventory management and strong product demand.

J

Joint Venture (JV)

A joint venture (JV) is a business arrangement in which two or more organizations create a separate business entity or collaborate on a specific project while sharing resources, risks, profits, and responsibilities.

K

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that shows how effectively a business, team, or individual is achieving a specific objective. Businesses use KPIs to monitor performance, track progress, and support data-driven decision-making.

Knowledge Management

Knowledge management is the process of creating, organizing, sharing, and using information, expertise, and organizational knowledge to improve decision-making, collaboration, innovation, and business performance.

L

Leadership

Leadership is the ability to guide, influence, and motivate individuals or teams to achieve shared goals. Effective leadership involves setting a clear vision, making informed decisions, solving problems, and fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Large Language Model (LLM)

A Large Language Model (LLM) is an artificial intelligence model trained on large volumes of text to understand and generate human language. LLMs can perform tasks such as answering questions, writing content, translating languages, summarizing information, generating computer code, and assisting with research.

Lead Nurturing

Lead nurturing is the process of building relationships with potential customers by providing relevant information, personalized communication, and ongoing engagement until they are ready to make a purchasing decision. It often involves email marketing, educational content, and sales follow-ups.

Liabilities

Liabilities are the financial obligations or debts that a business owes to other individuals or organizations. Examples include loans, accounts payable, taxes owed, wages payable, and other outstanding financial commitments.

Legal & Compliance

Legal & compliance refers to the laws, regulations, policies, and business practices that organizations must follow to operate legally and ethically. It includes areas such as business registration, contracts, intellectual property, data privacy, employment laws, taxation, and regulatory compliance.

Logistics

Logistics is the planning, management, and movement of goods, materials, and information throughout the supply chain. It includes transportation, warehousing, inventory management, packaging, and delivery to ensure products reach customers efficiently.

Licensing

Licensing is a business arrangement in which the owner of intellectual property grants another party permission to use it under agreed terms. Licensed assets may include trademarks, patents, copyrights, software, or brand names.

Lead Generation

Lead generation is the process of attracting and capturing the interest of potential customers who may be interested in a business's products or services. Businesses generate leads through marketing campaigns, websites, social media, events, referrals, and other channels.

M

Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the first functional version of a product that includes only the essential features needed to solve a core customer problem. Businesses use an MVP to gather user feedback, validate assumptions, and improve the product before investing in full-scale development.

Market Research

Market research is the process of collecting and analyzing information about customers, competitors, and market conditions to support informed business decisions.

Market Penetration

Market penetration is a growth strategy that focuses on increasing sales of existing products or services within an existing market by attracting more customers or increasing customer purchases.

Market Expansion

Market expansion is a business growth strategy that involves entering new geographic regions, customer segments, or industries to increase revenue and market reach.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to learn patterns from data and improve their performance without being explicitly programmed for every task. Machine learning is commonly used for predictions, recommendations, fraud detection, image recognition, and natural language processing.

Management

Management is the process of planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling resources to achieve business objectives. Managers oversee people, processes, and operations to improve efficiency, productivity, and organizational performance.

Market Validation

Market validation is the process of confirming that a product, service, or business idea solves a real customer problem and has sufficient market demand. Businesses typically validate the market through customer interviews, surveys, prototypes, pilot programs, or early sales before making significant investments.

Market Share

Market share is the percentage of total sales within a specific market that is generated by a particular company, brand, or product during a given period. It is commonly used to measure a business's competitive position within an industry.

Marketplace Seller

A marketplace seller is an individual or business that offers products or services through an online marketplace. Marketplace sellers use the platform's infrastructure, customer base, and payment systems to reach customers without operating their own eCommerce website.

Market Segmentation

Market segmentation is the process of dividing a broad market into smaller groups of customers with similar characteristics, needs, or behaviors. Businesses use market segmentation to better understand their audience and create targeted products, marketing campaigns, and customer experiences.

Mission Statement

A mission statement is a concise statement that defines a business's purpose, primary objectives, and the value it delivers to customers. It explains why the organization exists and guides its day-to-day operations and decision-making.

Merchant Account

A merchant account is a type of business bank account that allows merchants to accept electronic payments from customers through credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and other payment methods. Funds from customer transactions are temporarily held in the merchant account before being transferred to the business's primary bank account.

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) is the predictable revenue a subscription-based business generates from recurring customer subscriptions each month. MRR helps businesses track growth, forecast future revenue, and evaluate subscription performance.

Merger

A merger is the combination of two or more companies into a single business entity. Companies merge to achieve strategic objectives such as expanding operations, improving efficiency, increasing market share, or creating greater value for shareholders.

Machine Vision

Machine vision is a field of artificial intelligence that enables computers to interpret and analyze images or video. Businesses use machine vision for applications such as quality inspection, object detection, facial recognition, medical imaging, and automated manufacturing.

N

Net Profit Margin

Net profit margin is the percentage of revenue that remains as profit after deducting all business expenses, including operating costs, taxes, and interest. It is a key indicator of a company's overall profitability.

Nagad

Nagad is a mobile financial service (MFS) in Bangladesh that provides digital payment and financial services, including money transfers, merchant payments, bill payments, mobile recharge, and cash-in and cash-out transactions through a mobile wallet.

Nearshoring

Nearshoring is the practice of outsourcing business operations to a nearby country with similar time zones or geographic proximity. It helps improve collaboration while reducing costs compared to domestic operations.

Network Effect

A network effect occurs when the value of a product or service increases as more people use it. Businesses with strong network effects often become more valuable because each new user enhances the experience or utility for existing users. Social networks, online marketplaces, and communication platforms commonly benefit from network effects.

National Board of Revenue (NBR)

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is the principal tax authority in Bangladesh. It is responsible for administering income tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), customs duties, and other government revenues while ensuring compliance with the country's tax laws.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is a legally binding contract that requires one or more parties to keep specified information confidential. Businesses commonly use NDAs to protect trade secrets, business plans, customer information, product designs, and other sensitive information shared during business relationships.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a customer loyalty metric that measures how likely customers are to recommend a business, product, or service to others. NPS is commonly calculated using customer surveys that classify respondents as promoters, passives, or detractors based on their likelihood to recommend.

O

Offshoring

Offshoring is the practice of relocating business operations or services to another country to reduce costs, access specialized talent, or improve operational efficiency.

Organizational Development (OD)

Organizational Development (OD) is a planned approach to improving an organization's effectiveness through changes in culture, leadership, processes, and employee development.

Online Marketplace

An online marketplace is a digital platform that connects multiple buyers and sellers to buy and sell products or services. Marketplace operators facilitate transactions while independent merchants manage their own product listings, pricing, and inventory. Examples include Amazon, eBay, and Daraz.

Organizational Structure

An organizational structure is the system that defines how roles, responsibilities, authority, and communication are organized within a business. A clear organizational structure helps improve decision-making, accountability, collaboration, and operational efficiency.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is a company that manufactures products or components that are used in another company's branded products. OEMs may produce complete products or individual parts that are customized and sold under a different brand name.

Objective and Key Results (OKR)

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) is a goal-setting framework used to define measurable business objectives and track progress through specific key results. Organizations use OKRs to align teams, improve focus, and measure performance against strategic goals.

Order Fulfillment

Order fulfillment is the complete process of delivering a customer's order, from receiving the order to shipping the product and confirming delivery. It typically includes inventory allocation, picking, packing, shipping, and handling returns or exchanges.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is the practice of hiring an external company or individual to perform business functions that would otherwise be handled internally. Commonly outsourced activities include accounting, customer support, software development, and marketing.

Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency is the ability of a business to deliver products or services while minimizing waste, reducing costs, and making effective use of available resources.

Organizational Culture

Organizational culture is the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and work practices that shape how employees interact and perform within a company. A strong organizational culture supports employee engagement, collaboration, and long-term business success.

P

Product Strategy

Product strategy is a long-term plan that defines how a product will achieve business goals and meet customer needs. It outlines the product's vision, target market, competitive positioning, priorities, and roadmap for future development.

Payment & Commerce

Payment and commerce refers to the systems, technologies, and services that enable businesses and customers to buy, sell, and pay for products or services. This category includes digital payment methods, mobile financial services, payment gateways, merchant accounts, and commerce-related technologies used in online and offline transactions.

Pitch Deck

A pitch deck is a presentation that startups use to introduce their business to investors, partners, or stakeholders. It typically explains the problem, solution, market opportunity, business model, traction, financial projections, team, and funding requirements.

Private Label

A private label product is manufactured by one company exclusively for sale under another company's brand. Unlike white-label products, private-label products are typically customized for a specific retailer or business.

Product Development

Product development is the process of creating, designing, testing, and launching a new product or improving an existing one. It typically involves market research, product design, prototyping, testing, production, and continuous improvement based on customer feedback.

Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering is the process of designing and refining instructions given to an artificial intelligence model to produce accurate, relevant, and useful outputs. Effective prompt engineering helps improve the quality, consistency, and reliability of AI-generated responses.

PESTEL Analysis

PESTEL Analysis is a strategic framework used to analyze the external factors that may affect a business. It examines Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors to help businesses identify opportunities, assess risks, and make long-term strategic decisions.

Product Innovation

Product innovation is the process of creating new products or significantly improving existing products to better meet customer needs or solve new problems. Product innovation helps businesses remain competitive and respond to changing market demands.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is the process of using historical data, statistical models, and artificial intelligence to forecast future outcomes or trends. Businesses use predictive analytics to estimate customer behavior, sales, demand, financial performance, and operational risks, supporting more informed decision-making.

Pre-Seed Funding

Pre-seed funding is the earliest stage of startup financing, typically used to transform an idea into a viable product or business. It often comes from founders, friends and family, angel investors, or startup support programs before formal seed funding is raised.

Product Differentiation

Product differentiation is the process of distinguishing a product or service from competing offerings by emphasizing unique features, quality, pricing, design, customer experience, or other characteristics that provide additional value to customers.

Prototype

A prototype is an early version or working model of a product created to test ideas, gather user feedback, and validate design concepts before full-scale development or production.

Product Backlog

A product backlog is a prioritized list of features, improvements, bug fixes, and other work items planned for a product. Product teams use the backlog to organize development tasks and guide future product releases.

Patent

A patent is a legal right granted by a government that gives an inventor the exclusive right to make, use, sell, or license an invention for a limited period. In exchange, the inventor publicly discloses how the invention works. Patents are commonly granted for new, useful, and non-obvious inventions.

Proof of Concept (PoC)

A Proof of Concept (PoC) is a small-scale demonstration used to verify that a business idea, product concept, or technology is technically feasible and capable of solving the intended problem before significant investment is made.

Profit

Profit is the amount of money a business retains after subtracting all expenses, costs, taxes, and other liabilities from its total revenue. A business is profitable when its revenue exceeds its total expenses.

Product Management

Product management is the process of planning, developing, launching, and improving a product throughout its lifecycle. Product managers work with engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams to ensure the product meets customer needs and business objectives.

Payment Gateway

A payment gateway is a technology that securely processes electronic payments between customers, merchants, banks, and payment service providers. It authorizes transactions, encrypts sensitive payment information, and enables businesses to accept online payments through credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets, and other digital payment methods.

Positioning

Positioning is the process of establishing how a brand, product, or service is perceived in the minds of its target customers compared to competitors. Effective positioning highlights a business's unique value and helps customers understand why they should choose its offerings.

Product Feedback

Product feedback is the information, opinions, and suggestions provided by customers or users about a product. Businesses collect product feedback to identify improvement opportunities, enhance user satisfaction, and guide future product development decisions.

Product-Led Growth (PLG)

Product-Led Growth (PLG) is a business strategy where the product itself drives customer acquisition, activation, conversion, and retention. Instead of relying primarily on sales or marketing, businesses focus on delivering a product experience that encourages users to adopt, upgrade, and recommend the product.

Pre-Money Valuation

Pre-money valuation is the estimated value of a company immediately before receiving a new investment. It is used to calculate the ownership percentage that new investors will receive in exchange for their investment.

Performance Management

Performance management is the continuous process of setting employee goals, monitoring progress, providing feedback, evaluating performance, and supporting professional development. Its purpose is to improve individual performance while aligning employee contributions with organizational objectives.

Product Discovery

Product discovery is the process of researching customer needs, identifying problems, testing ideas, and validating potential solutions before building a product. It helps businesses reduce development risks, prioritize valuable features, and create products that better meet customer expectations.

Product Launch

A product launch is the process of introducing a new product or a major product update to the market. A successful product launch includes planning, marketing, sales, customer support, and performance monitoring to maximize adoption and business impact.

Product Adoption

Product adoption is the process by which customers begin using and regularly engaging with a new product or service. Businesses measure product adoption to evaluate customer acceptance, product value, and long-term growth potential.

Product Manager

A product manager is a professional responsible for guiding the development and success of a product throughout its lifecycle. Product managers define product strategy, prioritize features, coordinate cross-functional teams, and ensure the product delivers value to both customers and the business.

Product-Market Fit

Product-market fit is the stage where a product successfully meets the needs of a specific target market, resulting in strong customer demand, high satisfaction, and sustainable business growth.

Porter's Five Forces

Porter's Five Forces is a business strategy framework that evaluates the level of competition within an industry. It analyzes competitive rivalry, the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products or services to assess industry attractiveness and profitability.

Procurement

Procurement is the process of purchasing goods, services, or raw materials needed to operate a business. It includes identifying suppliers, negotiating contracts, placing orders, and managing supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery.

Payment Processor

A payment processor is a financial service that securely handles electronic payment transactions between customers, merchants, banks, and payment networks. It authorizes, verifies, and processes payments made through credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and other electronic payment methods.

Product Roadmap

A product roadmap is a strategic plan that outlines a product's vision, priorities, features, and development timeline. It helps product teams, stakeholders, and customers understand the direction of product development and upcoming releases.

Privacy Policy

A Privacy Policy is a legal document that explains how an organization collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information. It also informs users about their privacy rights and how their personal data is handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.

Product Lifecycle

The product lifecycle describes the stages a product goes through from its introduction to its eventual decline. The four main stages are introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Understanding the product lifecycle helps businesses make informed decisions about marketing, pricing, and product improvements.

Post-Money Valuation

Post-money valuation is the estimated value of a company immediately after receiving a new investment. It equals the pre-money valuation plus the amount of new capital invested and determines the ownership percentages of founders and investors.

Q

Quality Assurance (QA)

Quality Assurance (QA) is the systematic process of ensuring that products, services, or processes consistently meet defined quality standards. QA focuses on preventing defects through standardized procedures and continuous improvement.

Quality Control (QC)

Quality Control (QC) is the process of inspecting, testing, and verifying products or services to ensure they meet established quality requirements before reaching customers.

R

Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) measures the revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising. Businesses use ROAS to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and optimize their marketing budgets.

Retailer

A retailer is a business that sells products or services directly to end consumers. Retailers purchase goods from manufacturers, wholesalers, or distributors and offer them through physical stores, online shops, or other sales channels.

Revenue

Revenue is the total income a business earns from selling products or services before deducting any expenses, taxes, or operating costs. It is often referred to as a company's top-line income and is a key indicator of business performance.

Risk Management

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and responding to potential risks that could affect a business. Effective risk management helps minimize losses, improve decision-making, and support long-term business stability.

Rocket

Rocket is a mobile financial service (MFS) operated by Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC in Bangladesh. It enables users to transfer money, make merchant payments, pay utility bills, receive salaries, and perform other digital financial transactions using a mobile wallet.

Return on Equity (ROE)

Return on Equity (ROE) is a financial ratio that measures how efficiently a company generates profit from its shareholders' equity. Investors commonly use ROE to evaluate a company's profitability and management effectiveness.

Runway

Runway is the estimated amount of time a business can continue operating before it runs out of cash, based on its current burn rate. It helps founders and investors understand how long the business can sustain its operations without additional funding or increased revenue.

Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC)

The Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) is the government authority responsible for registering companies, partnerships, and other business entities in Bangladesh. RJSC maintains official business records and oversees company incorporation, statutory filings, and corporate compliance.

Recruitment

Recruitment is the process of identifying, attracting, evaluating, and hiring qualified candidates to fill job vacancies within an organization. It includes job advertising, candidate sourcing, interviews, assessments, and job offers.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an artificial intelligence technique that combines information retrieval with language generation. A RAG system retrieves relevant information from trusted data sources before generating a response, helping improve accuracy, relevance, and factual reliability.

S

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is the process of defining an organization's long-term goals, identifying priorities, allocating resources, and developing action plans to achieve sustainable business success.

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms to promote a business, engage audiences, build brand awareness, and generate sales or leads. Businesses use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube to share content and interact with customers.

Series A Funding

Series A funding is an early venture capital investment round that helps startups scale after demonstrating product-market fit and initial customer traction. Companies typically use Series A funding to expand operations, grow their team, improve products, and increase market reach.

SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)

A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is an investment agreement that allows investors to provide funding to a startup in exchange for the right to receive equity during a future financing event. Unlike a convertible note, a SAFE does not accrue interest or have a maturity date.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy that promotes websites through paid advertising on search engines. SEM typically involves pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns that help businesses appear in sponsored search results for targeted keywords.

Startup Ecosystem

A startup ecosystem is a network of entrepreneurs, startups, investors, mentors, universities, government agencies, service providers, incubators, accelerators, and support organizations that work together to help new businesses start, grow, and succeed.

Serviceable Available Market (SAM)

Serviceable Available Market (SAM) is the portion of the Total Addressable Market (TAM) that a business can realistically serve based on its products, services, business model, or geographic reach. SAM represents the market segment that aligns with the company's current offerings.

Succession Planning

Succession planning is the process of identifying and preparing employees to assume key leadership or critical business roles in the future. It helps ensure business continuity and supports long-term organizational stability.

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique code assigned to a specific product or product variation for inventory management. Businesses use SKUs to track stock levels, sales, and product performance while simplifying inventory organization.

Startup

A startup is a newly established business designed to solve a specific problem through an innovative product, service, or business model. Startups typically focus on rapid growth, product development, customer validation, and scalability.

Stakeholder Management

Stakeholder management is the process of identifying, engaging, and maintaining relationships with individuals or organizations that influence or are affected by a business or project.

Strategic Partnership

A strategic partnership is a long-term collaboration between two or more organizations that work together to achieve shared business objectives while maintaining their independent operations.

Scaling

Scaling is the process of increasing a business's revenue, customers, or market reach while improving operational efficiency and minimizing proportional increases in costs. A scalable business can grow without requiring equivalent growth in resources.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a documented set of step-by-step instructions that explains how to perform a specific business process consistently, safely, and efficiently.

Supply and Demand

Supply and demand is an economic principle that explains how the availability of products or services and customer demand influence prices and market behavior.

Seed Funding

Seed funding is the first significant round of external investment raised by a startup to develop its product, validate its business model, hire a team, and prepare for future growth. Seed funding is commonly provided by angel investors, venture capital firms, incubators, or accelerators.

Supply and Demand

Supply and demand is an economic principle that explains how the availability of products or services and customer demand influence prices, production, and market behavior.

Supply Chain

A supply chain is the network of people, organizations, activities, and resources involved in producing and delivering a product or service to customers. It typically includes sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, distribution, and retail.

Sales Funnel

A sales funnel is a model that illustrates the stages a potential customer goes through before making a purchase. The typical stages include awareness, interest, consideration, intent, evaluation, and purchase. Businesses use sales funnels to understand customer behavior and improve conversion rates.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning framework used to evaluate a business's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It helps entrepreneurs assess internal capabilities and external market conditions to make informed business decisions and develop effective growth strategies.

Sales Pipeline

A sales pipeline is a structured process that tracks potential customers from the initial contact to the final sale. It helps businesses manage sales opportunities by organizing each stage of the sales process, forecasting revenue, and identifying deals that require attention.

Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM)

Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) is the portion of the Serviceable Available Market (SAM) that a business can realistically capture within a specific period, considering competition, available resources, market conditions, and execution capabilities.

Scenario Planning

Scenario planning is a strategic planning method that evaluates multiple possible future situations and prepares businesses to respond effectively to different market conditions or uncertainties.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software delivery model in which applications are hosted by a provider and accessed over the internet through a web browser or mobile app. Instead of installing software on individual devices, users typically subscribe to the service and access it online.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving a website's visibility in organic search engine results. SEO involves optimizing content, website structure, technical performance, and user experience to increase relevant traffic from search engines like Google and Bing.

Subscription Commerce

Subscription commerce is a business model in which customers pay recurring fees at regular intervals to receive ongoing access to products or services. Businesses commonly use subscription commerce for software, streaming services, membership programs, and recurring product deliveries.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are businesses that operate with a relatively small workforce and revenue compared to large corporations. SMEs play a significant role in economic growth, job creation, innovation, and local business development.

T

Trademark

A trademark is a legally protected word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, or combination of these elements that identifies and distinguishes the products or services of one business from those of others. Trademark protection helps prevent unauthorized use that may confuse consumers.

Terms of Service (ToS)

Terms of Service (ToS), also known as Terms and Conditions, are the legal rules that govern how users may access and use a website, application, product, or service. They define the rights, responsibilities, acceptable use, limitations of liability, and other contractual obligations between the service provider and its users.

Tax Identification Number (TIN)

A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is a unique identification number issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to individuals and businesses for tax purposes in Bangladesh. A TIN is commonly required for filing income tax returns and completing various financial and business transactions.

Total Addressable Market (TAM)

Total Addressable Market (TAM) is the total revenue opportunity available if a business could capture 100% of the demand for its product or service within a defined market. TAM is commonly used to estimate a market's maximum potential size.

Talent Acquisition

Talent acquisition is a long-term strategy for identifying, attracting, hiring, and retaining skilled professionals who can support an organization's future growth. Unlike recruitment, talent acquisition focuses on building a sustainable talent pipeline and workforce planning.

Target Market

A target market is the specific group of customers a business intends to serve with its products or services. A target market is typically defined by characteristics such as demographics, geographic location, interests, purchasing behavior, or business needs.

Talent Management

Talent management is the process of attracting, developing, retaining, and optimizing employees to support an organization's long-term goals. It includes recruitment, training, performance management, career development, and succession planning.

Trade License

A trade license is an official authorization issued by a local government authority that allows a business to legally operate within a specific jurisdiction in Bangladesh. Most businesses are required to obtain and renew a trade license in accordance with applicable local regulations.

Term Sheet

A term sheet is a non-binding document that outlines the key terms and conditions of a proposed investment agreement between a startup and investors. It typically includes details such as valuation, investment amount, ownership structure, investor rights, and governance provisions before the final legal agreements are prepared.

U

Unit Economics

Unit economics measures the profitability of a single unit of a business, such as one product sold, one customer acquired, or one subscription. It helps businesses determine whether each transaction generates sufficient revenue to cover its associated costs and support sustainable growth.

User Experience (UX)

User Experience (UX) refers to a person's overall experience when interacting with a product, website, application, or service. Good UX focuses on usability, accessibility, efficiency, and customer satisfaction to make products easy and enjoyable to use.

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

A Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is the distinctive benefit or feature that sets a product, service, or business apart from its competitors. A strong USP clearly communicates why customers should choose one offering over available alternatives.

User Interface (UI)

User Interface (UI) is the visual and interactive elements through which users interact with a digital product. It includes layouts, buttons, menus, icons, typography, colors, and other design components that enable users to navigate and use a product effectively.

V

Vesting

Vesting is the process through which founders, employees, or advisors gradually earn ownership of their equity over a specified period or after meeting certain conditions. Vesting encourages long-term commitment and aligns incentives with the company's growth.

Vision Statement

A vision statement describes the long-term goals and aspirations of a business. It communicates what the organization aims to achieve in the future and provides strategic direction for growth and innovation.

Venture Debt

Venture debt is a type of financing provided to startups and high-growth companies that have already raised equity funding. Unlike venture capital, venture debt is a loan that must be repaid, allowing businesses to extend their financial runway without giving up additional ownership.

Value Proposition

A value proposition is a clear statement that explains why customers should choose a product or service. It highlights the unique benefits, problems solved, and value delivered compared to competing alternatives.

Venture Capital (VC)

Venture capital (VC) is a type of private investment provided to high-growth startups and early-stage companies with strong growth potential. Venture capital firms invest in exchange for equity and often provide strategic guidance, industry expertise, and business connections.

Vendor

A vendor is an individual or business that supplies goods or services to another business or customer. Vendors play an important role in the supply chain by providing products, materials, equipment, or services required for business operations.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Value Added Tax (VAT) is an indirect tax imposed on the supply of most goods and services in Bangladesh. Businesses that meet applicable registration requirements are generally required to collect VAT from customers and remit it to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in accordance with the country's tax laws.

Valuation

Valuation is the estimated economic value of a business or startup. Investors and founders use valuation to determine the company's worth during fundraising, acquisitions, mergers, and other financial transactions.

W

Workflow

A workflow is the sequence of tasks, activities, or processes required to complete a specific business objective. Well-designed workflows improve collaboration, efficiency, and operational consistency.

Warehouse Management

Warehouse management is the process of organizing and controlling warehouse operations, including receiving, storing, tracking, and shipping inventory. Effective warehouse management helps improve inventory accuracy, reduce costs, and increase operational efficiency.

Working Capital

Working capital is the difference between a company's current assets and current liabilities. It measures a business's ability to meet its short-term financial obligations and maintain daily operations. Positive working capital generally indicates that a business has sufficient short-term resources to cover its immediate expenses.

White Label

A white label product is manufactured or developed by one company and sold by another company under its own brand. White labeling allows businesses to offer products without developing them from scratch.

Wholesaler

A wholesaler is a business that buys products in large quantities from manufacturers or distributors and sells them in smaller quantities to retailers, businesses, or institutional buyers. Wholesale transactions typically occur at lower prices than retail sales.

Working Capital Management

Working capital management is the process of managing a company's short-term assets and liabilities to maintain sufficient cash flow for daily business operations and meet financial obligations.

Workflow Automation

Workflow automation is the use of software or artificial intelligence to automate repetitive business processes with minimal human intervention. Businesses use workflow automation to improve efficiency, reduce manual work, minimize errors, and increase productivity.

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