[ocean_moist]

I use business, startup, and company interchangeably. Generally I tried to use business for O(n), startup for O(n^2), but I guess I wasn't strict with my usage...

Perhaps they are harder to start, but they are also vastly more likely to succeed to their O(n^2), and this is not only due to the increased barrier to entry.

That's what I mean when I say, founders are more likely to succeed at O(n) companies.

[brudgers]

Most businesses are playing pinball…success this month/year means you can play again next month/year.

Very few have successful exits where the owner walks away with life changing money and no obligation.

[kylecordes]

Unfortunately, many businesses are arguably a bit worse than that: success this year means you put even more at risk next year.

(For example, you get successful enough that you need a bit of office space. Well, your little business is not going to persuade anyone with nice office space to lease to it alone... Landlords will instead demand the owners personally guarantee the lease, i.e. commit to paying it or go bankrupt trying, even if the business shrinks and no longer needs or can afford the space. So you thought, great, we had a couple years of strong growth. Now you get to commit personally to five years of a huge expense. Congratulations.)