The document discusses various statistics related to startups and entrepreneurship: 1) The number of initial public offerings in the US was up 72% in the first two months of 2014 compared to 2013, with 56 companies filing for an IPO, led by healthcare and biotech firms. 2) Kickstarter has raised over $1 billion for 57,000 projects from 5.7 million investors since 2009, though less than half (44%) of entrepreneurs raise their full target amount. 3) The legal marijuana market in Colorado and Washington is estimated to be worth £6.1 billion by 2018, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity, though banking may be an issue due to federal laws.

1. © Copyright 2014 London Business School
Startup stats
Number crunching these
entrepreneurial times

2. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 2
It was a good start to the year for entrepreneurs looking for a
profitable exit. The number of initial public offerings in the US
was up 72 per cent on 2013 at 31 through the first two months
of 2014, and 56 companies filed for an IPO. Healthcare and
biotech firms led the way, with the IPO action reminiscent of the
dotcom boom in its heyday.
Sources: usatoday.com; moneymorning.com
72%

3. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 3
At its launch in April 2009, crowdfunding site Kickstarter had 40
people pitch £648 for seven projects. Now approaching its fifth
anniversary, 5.7 million investors have parted with over $1bn for
57,000 projects. Investors are fairly selective: less than half of
the entrepreneurs, about 44 per cent, raise their target amount.
Source: time.com
57,000

4. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 4
In 2014, licensed companies will be able to sell marijuana for
recreational use in the US states of Colorado and Washington. It
gives entrepreneurs a chance to roll up a share of a market
estimated to be worth £6.1bn by 2018. Banking may be an
issue, though, as federal laws prohibit most banks from taking
money from firms that grow and sell the drug.
Sources: bbc.co.uk; businessinsider.com; brookings.edu
£6.1billion

5. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 5
Modern technology allows huge scope for instant entrepreneurial
action. Take the case of photographer Daniel Arnold. With just
$90.03 in the bank, he offered Instagram followers a one-day
opportunity to buy a 6x4 print of any of his photos for $150. He
got over $15,000 worth of orders. “It’s not like I’m any kind of
entrepreneur,” he reflected. “I’m a business idiot.”
Source: forbes.com
6x4

6. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 6
Good news for entrepreneurs living in parts of the world with no
internet coverage. Facebook is reportedly involved in a plan to
build thousands of drones in an effort to beam the internet to
places where no ISP has gone before. The unmanned aircraft
act as satellites, circumnavigating the airways at 65,000 feet for
up to five years continuously.
Source: techcrunch.com
Five years

7. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 7
June 2014 is the 40th anniversary of the barcode. The
ubiquitous black and white striped label first appeared in a US
supermarket on a ten-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing
gum. Fast forward four decades and a wave of start-ups are
making use of the barcode’s successor – RFID technology.
Source: economist.com
1974

8. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 8
The provision of software, infrastructure and platforms as a
service, via cloud computing, allows entrepreneurs to conduct
activities ranging from accounting to marketing with minimal
upfront costs. The cloud services market is expected to grow
from $37bn in 2010, to $121bn by 2015, according to research
firm Markets and Markets.
Source: cloudcomputing-news.net
$121billion

9. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 9
Competitions such as The Wearable Technologies Innovation
World Cup 14/15, with its prize fund of $200,000, are all the
rage. It’s great news for entrepreneurs seeking idea validation,
development resources, and influential corporate partners.
Source: innovationworldcup.com
$200,000

10. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 10
With 3-D printing shaping up as a new frontier for entrepreneurs,
it is no surprise to see heavyweight corporations adding the
extra dimension to their business. US-based start-up 3DLT
recently opened a storefront for 3-D objects on Amazon, part of
a pilot programme by the online retailer to make 3-D printed
products more accessible for consumers.
Sources: fastcompany.com; amazonaws.com
3-D

11. BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW 11
With the right start-up idea it is possible to get very rich very quickly.
In February, social media giant Facebook announced the
acquisition of WhatsApp in a deal worth $19bn. Not a bad
outcome for co-founders, and former Yahoo employees, Brian
Acton and Jan Koum, who started the messaging app firm in 2009.
Source: ft.com
$19billion

12. These startup stats were published as part of
the entrepreneurial special report in
Business Strategy Review
Volume 25 Issue 2 2014
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