There are a number of different types of venture that could be considered when discussing entrepreneurship in general. However, like most venture capitalists and business angels, my particular area of interest is in high growth ventures that are capable of achieving at least a 20% increase in revenue for each of five consecutive years. These ventures are sometimes referred to as Gazelles and account for only about 3% of businesses, whereas slow and steady competitors in the market are referred to as Mice.
In comparison Mice are companies that have learnt how to survive, establishing a market presence in the long run and usually growing at less than 10% annually. Mice seek to provide personal income without working for someone else, whereas Gazelles seek to create wealth in the marketplace often foregoing their own immediate income. A Mouse can however transform itself into a Bullfrog [1] by retaining the Gazelle mindset, but taking strong leaps forward for limited spurts of growth. By taking this approach the Bullfrog gathers itself, poised on a lily pad to reassess, plan, and time the next leap forward allowing more control of the growth process.
References
[1] McGrath, L. (2002) Growth, Bullfrogs, and Small Businesses. www.coastal.edu/business/cbj/pdfs/growth.pdf
