A scale-up is a business that has achieved a certain level of maturity and is growing rapidly. It is generally characterized by rapid growth in revenues and/or headcount. It is typically considered to be a company that is beyond the start-up phase, but still has a relatively small size and is not yet a large company. Scale-ups can range from pre-revenue start-ups to established companies with millions in revenues.
There is no clear-cut definition of a scale-up. According to the Scale-up Institute, a scale-up is a company that has been operating for at least three years, has more than 10 employees, and is growing at a rate of 20% or more. Other definitions of a scale-up may include companies that are two or more years old, have more than 10 employees, and are growing at a rate of 10% or more. The size and revenue of a scale-up can also vary depending on the industry and the geographic location.