Start up Burning Money to Grow, Until When?

Devin Halim Wijaya2 September 2024

0 1 3 minutes read

Introduction

In the startup world, “burning money” has become commonplace. Many startups, especially in the tech sector, choose to incur short-term losses to pursue exponential growth. This strategy, though highly risky, has led to the creation of some of the world’s most successful companies. However, many startups have also failed and eventually run out of funds. This article will explore both sides of this strategy and propose a more sustainable concept for startup growth.

Successful Startups with Money-Burning Strategy

Amazon
Amazon is a classic example of a company that took the risk of incurring losses for years to build a strong market share. Since its founding in 1994, Amazon focused on growth, often sacrificing short-term profitability. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, believed that by expanding scale and diversifying the business, the company would eventually monopolize the market and lock in long-term profitability. This strategy proved successful, making Amazon one of the largest companies in the world (Yglesias, 2020).
Uber
Uber is also an example of a company that used a money-burning strategy to dominate the market. Operating in over 60 countries and 400 cities, Uber subsidized users and drivers to outcompete local players. Despite ongoing large operational losses, the company’s valuation remained high, attracting significant investments from various sources (Gurley, 2014). However, this business model continues to be questioned, especially after Uber’s IPO yielded disappointing results. Uber still faces significant challenges in achieving profitability despite remaining a market leader in many regions.

Failed Startups with Money-Burning Strategy

WeWork
WeWork is one of the most notorious examples of the failure of the money-burning strategy. The company grew rapidly, opening various coworking spaces worldwide. However, overly aggressive expansion without a solid business foundation led the company into massive debt. In 2019, WeWork experienced a dramatic downfall when its IPO failed, and the company’s valuation plummeted. The company had to accept a bailout from its main investor, SoftBank, to survive (Gara, 2019).
Theranos
Theranos, a startup founded by Elizabeth Holmes, initially promised a revolution in the healthcare industry with its fast and cheap blood testing technology. However, after years of attracting significant investments, the company collapsed due to unproven technology claims. Ultimately, Theranos ran out of funds and was forced to shut down, with Holmes facing criminal charges (Carreyrou, 2018). This case serves as a classic example of how hype and high market expectations can inflate a company’s value, even without solid proof of the technology’s capabilities.

A More Sustainable Approach to Startup Growth

The money-burning strategy may work for some companies, but the risks are immense. For startups looking to grow sustainably, here are some approaches to consider:

Focus on Early Profitability
Instead of pursuing aggressive growth, startups can focus on building a profitable business model from the start. This means optimizing spending and focusing on smaller but more profitable markets. This approach allows companies to survive in the long term without relying on large external capital injections.
Prudent Fund Management
Startups should be cautious in managing their funding. While large investments can accelerate growth, over-reliance on external funding can backfire if market conditions change or investors lose interest. Diversifying funding sources and developing stable revenue streams can help startups maintain their business continuity.
Gradual Scaling
Growing gradually and ensuring each step of expansion is based on a solid foundation is key to long-term success. This also allows the company to learn from small mistakes before taking bigger risks. Gradual scaling also allows startups to adjust their business models based on market feedback, helping them avoid failures that may result from overly rapid expansion.

Conclusion

Burning money for growth can be an effective strategy, but it is also fraught with risk. Companies like Amazon and Uber have shown that this strategy can work, while companies like WeWork and Theranos serve as examples of dramatic failures. For many startups, a more sustainable approach, focusing on profitability and gradual growth, may be a wiser path to long-term success.

Also read:Manage Your Small Business Finances Easily: A Guide to Simple Bookkeeping