Cotyledon Dependency
Startups run on inherited capital (investor funding, founder savings) before achieving revenue self-sufficiency.
The cotyledon phase is a countdown timer. Deploy true leaves and start photosynthesis before the clock hits zero, or die.
When a seed germinates, its first leaves aren't true leaves. They're cotyledons - embryonic leaves that were packed inside the seed containing stored energy from the parent plant. For the first 7-14 days post-germination, the seedling runs entirely on cotyledon reserves. Photosynthesis hasn't started yet. The plant is living off its inheritance, burning through the energy bank its parent provided. If true leaves don't develop before cotyledon reserves deplete, the seedling dies. There's no second chance. The cotyledon phase is a countdown timer.
Business Application of Cotyledon Dependency
Startups run on inherited capital (investor funding, founder savings) before achieving revenue self-sufficiency. This is a countdown timer - deploy true leaves (revenue, proven model) before reserves deplete or die. Different strategies exist: large cotyledons (more capital, slower growth, quality focus) vs. small cotyledons (minimal capital, must move fast).