Website Glossary for AI, Tech, Entrepreneurs, Founders, and Small Business

A

  • A/B Testing: A method of comparing two versions of a web page, product, or feature to determine which performs better.
  • Accelerator: A program that provides mentorship, funding, and support to early-stage startups in exchange for equity.
  • Agile: A project management methodology emphasizing iterative development, collaboration, and customer feedback.
  • Algorithm: A set of rules or instructions given to an AI or computer program to perform tasks or solve problems.
  • Angel Investor: An individual who provides capital to startups in exchange for equity or convertible debt.
  • API (Application Programming Interface): A set of protocols that allow different software applications to communicate.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence by machines, including learning, reasoning, and self-correction.

B

  • Back-End Development: The server-side logic, database interactions, and application functionality of a web or mobile application.
  • Bandwidth: The capacity of a network to transmit data over a connection in a given time.
  • Benchmarking: Comparing business processes and performance metrics to industry bests or competitors.
  • Blockchain: A decentralized digital ledger that records transactions across multiple computers.
  • Bootstrapping: Starting and growing a business with limited or no outside investment.
  • Brand Equity: The value and strength of a brand in the marketplace.

C

  • Cap Table (Capitalization Table): A document that outlines the equity ownership of a company.
  • Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services over the internet.
  • Conversion Rate: The percentage of users who take a desired action on a website or app.
  • CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Software used to manage a company’s interactions with current and potential customers.
  • Crowdfunding: Raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet.
  • CTA (Call to Action): A prompt that encourages users to take a specific action.

D

  • Data Mining: The process of analyzing large datasets to discover patterns and insights.
  • Deep Learning: A subset of machine learning using neural networks with many layers.
  • DevOps: A set of practices that combines software development and IT operations.
  • Disruption: Innovation that creates a new market or value network, potentially displacing established industry leaders.
  • Domain Name: The address where Internet users can access a website.

E

  • E-commerce: Buying and selling goods and services over the Internet.
  • Elevator Pitch: A brief and persuasive speech that outlines an idea for a product, service, or project.
  • Equity: Ownership interest in a company, typically in the form of stocks or shares.
  • Exit Strategy: A plan for how an entrepreneur or investor will leave a business and realize their investment.

F

  • Freemium: A pricing model where basic services are free and premium features are paid.
  • Founder: A person who establishes a new business or startup.
  • Funding Round: A stage in which a startup seeks investment from VCs, angels, or other sources.

G

  • Go-To-Market Strategy: A plan to deliver a product to the end customer, including marketing and distribution.
  • Growth Hacking: Unconventional strategies to grow a business quickly.

H

  • Hackathon: A competitive event where teams create functioning tech products in a short time.
  • HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The standard language for creating web pages.

I

  • Incubator: An organization designed to help startups grow by providing support and resources.
  • Intellectual Property (IP): Creations of the mind that have legal rights (e.g., patents, trademarks).
  • IPO (Initial Public Offering): The first time a company’s shares are offered to the public.

J

  • JavaScript: A programming language used to create interactive effects on websites.
  • Jargon: Specialized terminology used within a specific industry.

K

  • KPI (Key Performance Indicator): A measurable value indicating how effectively a company is achieving objectives.

L

  • Landing Page: A standalone web page created for a marketing or advertising campaign.
  • Lean Startup: A methodology for developing businesses based on validated learning and experimentation.
  • Lifetime Value (LTV): The predicted net profit from the entire future relationship with a customer.

M

  • Machine Learning: A subset of AI that allows systems to learn from data.
  • Market Fit (Product-Market Fit): When a product satisfies strong market demand.
  • MVP (Minimum Viable Product): A version of a product with enough features to attract early adopters.

N

  • Net Promoter Score (NPS): A metric for customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Neural Network: A computing system inspired by the human brain’s structure.

O

  • Open Source: Software whose source code is freely available for modification and distribution.
  • Onboarding: The process of guiding new users or employees through a product or organization.

P

  • Pivot: A fundamental change in a business’s product or strategy.
  • Pitch Deck: A presentation used to communicate a startup’s vision and value to investors.
  • Prototype: An early model of a product used to test concepts and functionality.

Q

  • QA (Quality Assurance): Ensuring a product meets defined standards of quality.
  • Quantum Computing: Advanced computing based on the principles of quantum mechanics.

R

  • ROI (Return on Investment): A measure of the profitability of an investment.
  • Runway: The amount of time a company can operate before it runs out of money.

S

  • SaaS (Software as a Service): Software delivered over the internet on a subscription basis.
  • Scalability: The capability of a system to handle growth.
  • Seed Funding: Initial capital used to start a business.
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The process of improving website visibility in search engines.
  • Startup: A newly established business, often in the tech sector.

T

  • Target Market: A specific group of consumers at which a product or service is aimed.
  • Term Sheet: A non-binding document outlining the terms and conditions of an investment.
  • Traction: Evidence of growth or customer interest in a startup.

U

  • UI (User Interface): The visual elements of a product that users interact with.
  • UX (User Experience): The overall experience of a user when interacting with a product or service.

V

  • Valuation: The estimated worth of a company.
  • Venture Capital: Investment in startups with high growth potential.
  • Virality: The tendency of information to spread rapidly online.

W

  • Web3: The next generation of the internet, emphasizing decentralization and blockchain technologies.
  • Wireframe: A visual guide that represents the layout of a website or app.
  • Workflow: A sequence of tasks that are carried out in a specific order to complete a process.

X

  • XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A markup language used to encode documents in a format readable by both humans and machines.

Y

  • Yield: The income return on an investment.
  • Y Combinator: A prominent startup accelerator known for funding early-stage companies.

Z

  • Zero-Day: A security flaw in software that is unknown to the vendor and has not been patched.
  • Zoom Fatigue: The exhaustion associated with overusing virtual communication platforms like Zoom.