The modern business market is all about innovation and creativity, with new companies popping up from every corner to address the demands of today’s world. However, with high demands for dedication, perseverance and funding, it’s not easy to start a business that lasts. In fact, over half a million businesses are set up every month, though only 30% of them survive past the two-year mark.
Here are the most inspirational startup businesses that rose from the bottom to the top.
Starbucks
It’s hard to imagine what Starbucks looked like as a small-time company. The coffee giant boasts of its humble beginning, after being started by a writer and two teachers in Seatle back in the 70s. The three took their ideas to Peet’s Coffee and Tea founder, partnering with him for their supply.
Since the beginning, Starbucks has promoted the idea of their coffee shop being a gathering place, growing into a world-renown brand. As a result, the leading coffee brand has about 17,000 shops spread in 55 countries.
Craigslist
Whether you’re looking for an old guitar or trying to sell a vintage car, Craigslist is one of the greatest resources on the internet. The company has been around for almost the same time as the internet has existed, rising from a pared-down site to being stronger more than ever.
Craigslist has managed to remain successful by keeping things simple. They maintain a small number of workers and focus on their web site’s content and service instead of marketing and superficial appearances. That’s how they have managed to secure their place in the market and make millions of dollars in the process.
Cards Against Humanity
If you enjoy playing card games away from the casino, you might have heard about Card Against Humanity. The self-proclaimed game for horrible people is a great party pleaser when you know what your friends like and find funny. The winning pair of cards are hilariously twisted, and the company is known for its ridiculous marketing stunts.
Cards Against Humanity came to life after a Kickstarter funding, and the company quickly skyrocketed in popularity, making over $12 million in the first year. The company is an excellent example of how adding some fun to your business can benefit you.
Wayfair
When starting from scratch in an empty house, Wayfair might be the best place to start looking for things to give it a great look. The also started with nothing, and they managed to remain profitable from the very beginning.
Wayfair currently sells home décor and furniture at a bargain price, initially focusing on search engine optimization using innovative digital strategies than marketing. The idea was groundbreaking when the company was born in 2002, especially given that businesses didn’t care about Keywords, SEO or online marketing.
GoFundMe
If you ever thought of starting a business without enough capital or raising cash for a worthy cause, then you must have heard about GoFundMe. The company started from nothing, using their popular crowdfunding idea to advance from a simple site to a large company used by everything from charities to startups.
