The Start-Up Lie

Many entrepreneurs merely coast on the trendiness of the start-up image: they might wear trainers to work, leave their tie at home, go on a pilgrimage to Silicon Valley. Ultimately, however, they are clueless about what running a start-up actually means. This is how illusions and frustrations come about. After all, not every start-up becomes the next Facebook. Only a few change the world, while nine out of ten vanish into thin air as quickly as they appear. And in fact, beyond offices offering ball-pits and foosball tables, start-ups are very rarely “cool” employers. They often pay and treat their employees poorly, are unable to tackle gender inequality in the workplace. After all, a start-up’s characteristic neo-capitalist, DIY spirit does little to ensure honest or sustainable business practices that might have been called for in traditional company structures. Now, the hunt for capital from investors, start-ups are prepared to beg, borrow, and steal. Jochen Kalka systematically debunks the twelve biggest lies around start-up hype. His compelling inquiry acts as a warning for anyone on the verge of falling for promises of trendy lounge chairs, tasty free drinks, and a “relaxed” work environment.