the physics of winning in startups
Let’s understand how momentum can help you in building winning startups.
What is momentum in physics?
p = m × (|v| × û)
- p is momentum.
- m is mass.
- |v| is speed magnitude.
- û is a unit vector indicating direction.
This means momentum depends not just on how fast something is moving but also in which direction.
What affects momentum in physics:
- Increasing mass by adding more material to the object or combining objects together increases momentum.
- Removing opposing forces increases momentum, and introducing them reduces it.
- Converting potential energy to kinetic energy increases momentum; the opposite decreases momentum.
- Momentum is lost by colliding with stationary or slower-moving objects.
- Applying a constant external force in the same direction increases momentum, and in the opposite direction decreases it.
By this point, you might have already drawn the parallel between momentum in physics and momentum in startups.
Let’s understand momentum from the point of view of startups.
What is momentum in a startup?
Startup momentum = Resources (mass) × Execution speed (velocity) × Strategic direction (vector).
A lot of startups emphasize resources and execution speed but less on strategic direction, which can kill momentum.
There is also a cliché that says, “Execution eats strategy for breakfast.” But as a startup gains momentum in the wrong direction, it becomes hard to stop, pivot, and generate momentum in a different direction. The role of leadership in a startup is to increase momentum in the right direction.
What affects momentum at a startup:
- Adding opposing forces (misaligned investors and team members) will decrease momentum. The right team will increase momentum.
- Avoiding collisions (regulatory roadblocks, platform dependency risk, wrong market timing, misidentifying the customers) can increase momentum.
- Applying continuous external force in the right direction by reinforcing the vision and bringing clarity increases momentum.
- Increasing resources strategically (more funding, talent, and users) increases momentum.
You get the picture! Momentum is the single most important ingredient for startup success. I would say, look around you and identify momentum killers, momentum boosters and do what is necessary.
To re-emphasize, if you’re in a leadership role, your only job is to increase the momentum in the right direction.