"It's a start-up with benefits, as I'd call it," he said, smiling.
Ms Whitman turned a start-up with 30 employees into a 15,000-person colossus.
Of course, inviting people to trust a start-up with their money is a lot to ask.
That was how G.E. wound up investing in A123Systems, a start-up with a lithium ion battery technology.
But Jet promoted itself as a start-up with a difference: one focused on employee well-being.
The Water Conservation Group, a start-up with 100 clients, began developing its international profile six months ago.
They founded echoBase, a start-up with 14 employees that is developing apps to allow doctors and nurses to view and update medical records across different computer systems.
Prior to running for office, Ms. Whitman led eBay for 10 years, starting when it was a start-up with only 30 employees.
One of the partners, Mr. Acher, says that the firm typically takes 30 percent ownership in a start-up, with a range of 20 to 40 percent.
This barely matters to the big six, but can make life for a start-up, with fewer staff available to work on compliance, more of a struggle.
Mr. Rosenzweig is working with Pudge Knuckles, a start-up with a roasting facility in Red Hook that plans to become a chain with perhaps a dozen shops.
