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Your venture might not be a normal startup
So, you’ve got a groundbreaking idea that you believe could change the world. You’ve sketched out your vision, maybe even built a prototype, and are ready to dive headfirst into the startup ecosystem. But there’s one lingering question: Is your venture a normal startup, or are you entering the thrilling (and often grueling) realm of deep tech?
Here’s how you can tell.
Normal startups often focus on leveraging existing technologies to solve problems in creative ways—think ride-sharing apps, e-commerce platforms, or software-as-a-service (SaaS) products. These ventures succeed by scaling quickly, iterating based on user feedback, and delivering a polished product fast.
In contrast, deep tech startups are driven by foundational scientific discoveries or advanced engineering. If your venture is built around quantum computing, gene editing, advanced robotics, or cutting-edge artificial intelligence models, you’re likely operating in the deep tech sphere. Unlike software startups, where you can often “move fast and break things,” deep tech requires careful, methodical development to ensure feasibility.
How to tell: If your idea needs validation through peer-reviewed research, and your MVP will take years (not weeks) to develop, you’re in deep tech territory.
A hallmark of deep tech startups is the extended time-to-market. Building revolutionary technology doesn’t happen overnight. From prototyping to testing to scaling, each stage requires significant resources and expertise.
Normal startups, on the other hand, can launch a basic version of their product within months, gather user feedback, and refine the offering. If your venture involves long R&D timelines, high capital costs, or expensive lab equipment before you can even think about revenue, you’re in deep tech.
How to tell: If you’ve already spent years in development or need millions just to prototype, welcome to deep tech.
For normal startups, competitive advantages often come from speed, network effects, or brand loyalty. They might file patents, but IP isn’t always the backbone of their business model.
Deep tech startups, however, live and die by their intellectual property. Your idea likely hinges on patents, trade secrets, or proprietary algorithms that give you a defensible moat against competitors. Without robust IP protection, your breakthrough could be copied by companies with deeper pockets.
How to tell: If filing patents and securing IP rights are as important to your roadmap as building the product itself, you’re working in deep tech.
Most startups begin with a small seed round to build an MVP and attract early users. Deep tech startups, however, often need significantly more capital upfront, even before reaching the prototype stage. The hardware, materials, and specialized talent required for your venture come with a hefty price tag.
Venture capitalists focused on deep tech understand the long timelines and high risks involved. If you’re finding it challenging to secure funding from generalist investors, it’s because your needs are outside the norm.
How to tell: If your fundraising deck feels more like a research grant proposal, you’re deep tech.
Normal startups might deal with legal and compliance issues, but deep tech startups are often entrenched in highly regulated industries like healthcare, aerospace, or energy. Clinical trials, safety certifications, and regulatory approvals aren’t just an afterthought—they’re milestones baked into your roadmap.
How to tell: If your success hinges on navigating FDA approvals, data privacy laws, or international export restrictions, you’re in deep tech.
Normal startups typically solve problems the market already knows exist. A new app might make it easier to book a service or streamline a common workflow, and users immediately grasp the value.
Deep tech startups often work on problems people don’t yet understand—or solutions they didn’t know were possible. Your first task might be to educate potential customers, investors, and regulators about why your technology matters and how it will change their world.
How to tell: If “evangelism” feels like a core part of your business model, you’re building a deep tech startup.
Normal startups can thrive with a scrappy team of generalists who wear multiple hats. Deep tech startups require highly specialized talent, often with advanced degrees and niche expertise. Your founding team might include physicists, engineers, or data scientists whose skills are critical to the venture’s success.
How to tell: If your ideal hire has a PhD or years of experience in a highly technical field, you’re likely in deep tech.
All startups face risk, but normal startups usually worry more about market fit—whether there’s enough demand for their product.
Deep tech startups face an additional layer of risk: Can the technology even be built? If it works in the lab, can it scale? And if it scales, will it outperform existing solutions enough to justify its adoption?
How to tell: If your biggest sleepless nights are spent wondering whether the science will pan out, you’re in deep tech.
Recognizing that your venture is a deep tech startup changes how you approach funding, hiring, and execution. It means planning for longer timelines, working with specialized investors, and building a team that balances visionary thinking with scientific rigor. While the challenges are greater, the potential rewards are transformative—not just for your business, but for society as a whole.
So, if these points resonate, congratulations! Your startup might not be “normal,” but that’s exactly why it could be extraordinary.
