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Glossary: startup terminology with definitions, examples and related terms
Your reference for startup terminology. Look up the meaning of any word you keep running into — from funding stages to legal terms — with definitions, pronunciation, etymology, examples, and links to related terms.
- LayoutA–Z + Search
- CurationCentralized
- LinkingRelated terms
app.nautis.io/glossary
What is Startup Glossary?
Startup terminology is the shorthand founders, investors and operators use, from pre-money and pro rata to burn multiple and drag-along. The Nautis Glossary is a curated, read-only reference inside the app. Browse it A to Z, search by any word in a term or its definition, filter by category, and open a term for its definition, pronunciation, etymology, examples and links to related terms.
The first term sheet a founder reads is full of words that sound familiar and mean something precise. A partner says "we'd want pro rata and a board seat" and the founder nods. The glossary is there for the minute after that call, before the reply goes out. Open it from Resources & Learning, type the word, and read a plain definition with an example of how it shows up in practice.
Each term opens in a dialog with the Definition, an Etymology note where one exists, Examples in a callout, and Related Terms as clickable cards. That last part is where it earns its place. One definition leads to the terms around it, and the second or third term is often the question you actually needed answered. The speaker icon reads the term aloud using your browser's voice, which helps with the words nobody wants to mispronounce in a pitch.
The term list is curated by the Nautis team and is the same for every organization. Nautis also publishes a public startup glossary on this website for reading outside the app. When a term turns into a real decision, such as how much dilution a SAFE means for you, move from definitions to numbers with the SAFE note calculator.
Built for
- First-time founders demystifying jargon
- Teams onboarding new operators
- Anyone navigating an investor conversation
Capabilities
What you can do with Startup Glossary
Everything ships out of the box. No setup, no plugins, no extra tools.
Search across terms
Type any part of a term to find it.
Categorized
Funding, legal, finance, product, growth, more.
Related terms
Every entry links to terms you might want next.
Use cases
How startups use Startup Glossary
Reading your first term sheet
Keep the glossary open in a second tab while you read. Search each unfamiliar term, then follow its Related Terms cards. You'll go into the lawyer's call knowing which clauses to ask about, not asking what they mean.
Onboarding someone from outside startups
A new operations hire from a large company hears "runway", "burn" and "ARR" in their first standup. Point them at the glossary, filter by the category that fits, and let them browse it in their first week.
Checking a word you only half know
Search matches the term and its definition, so a word typed in the search box also finds terms that use it inside their explanation. Useful when you know the idea but not the exact name.
Practising pronunciation before a pitch
Open a term with a /pronunciation/ badge and click the speaker icon. If nothing plays, check your system volume and that your browser allows audio for the site.
Quick start
From zero to using Startup Glossary
- 1
Open the glossary
Sidebar → Resources & Learning → Glossary.
- 2
Search or browse
A–Z bar or search box.
- 3
Open a term
Definition, examples, related.
- 4
Follow related terms
Build out your understanding.
Looking up startup terminology: in-app glossary vs a web search vs asking an AI advisor
A definition answers "what does it mean". An advisor answers "what does it mean for us". Use both, in that order.
| Need | Web search | Nautis Glossary | Nautis AI Advisory Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consistent, curated definitions | Depends on the result | Yes, curated by the Nautis team | Generated per question |
| Examples and related terms | Scattered across pages | Examples and Related Terms cards | On request |
| Pronunciation | Sometimes | Speaker icon, where available | No |
| Applied to your company's numbers | No | No | Yes, from the modules each advisor reads |
| Uses AI credits | No | No | Yes |
| Add your own terms | Not applicable | No. Suggest one to support | Through custom advisor knowledge files |
Plans and limits
- The glossary is read-only and the same for every organization. Anyone with read access to the Glossary module can use it. See pricing for plans.
What Startup Glossary doesn't do
- You can't add your own or company-specific terms. Missing or wrong terms go to support for review.
- Terms open in a dialog and the URL doesn't change, so you can't send a teammate a direct link to one term. Tell them the term name instead.
- Definitions explain, they don't advise. A term like "full ratchet" still needs a lawyer when it's in your documents.
- Pronunciation depends on your browser's speech feature, which some browsers and systems block or switch off.
Startup Glossary questions
What startup terminology should a first-time founder learn first?+
Start with the words in your next conversation. Before a raise that's valuation, pre-money, SAFE, pro rata and dilution. Before hiring it's vesting, cliff and option pool. Search each one in the glossary and follow the related terms.
Can I browse startup terms by category?+
Yes. Click a category under Categories in the left panel to narrow the list, and the count beside each one shows how many terms it holds. Click All Categories to go back.
Does using the glossary cost AI credits?+
No. Definitions are curated text, not generated answers. Asking an AI advisor to explain a term in the context of your company does use credits.
Can I search inside definitions, not just term names?+
Yes. Search matches both the term and its definition, so a keyword from inside an explanation finds the term too. If nothing matches, Clear Search takes you back to the A to Z view.
Can I add my own terms to the glossary?+
The user-facing glossary is curated by the Nautis team. If you spot a term that is missing or wrong, contact support and we will review it.
Why are some letters greyed out in the A–Z bar?+
Those letters have no terms yet — or no terms in the category you are currently filtering by. Clear the category filter to see every letter that has content.
The pronunciation button does nothing — what is wrong?+
The button uses your browser's speech synthesis API. Some browsers and operating systems disable it by default or block it on the first click. Check your browser's sound permissions for the site and try again.
Can I share a link to a specific term?+
The term opens in a dialog, so the URL does not change. To share a definition with a teammate, ask them to open the glossary and search for the term name.
Is the glossary the same for every organization?+
Yes. The term list is global to Nautis. Filters and searches you apply are only on your screen and do not change what other people see.
Can I suggest a term?+
Drop us a note via Contact and we'll consider adding it.
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