7 of the Funniest Parodies of the Startup Life & Entrepreneurship

By Amanda McCormick

culled from:about.com
Around here, we taking the business of starting a business very seriously. But that doesn't mean we don't get a kick out seeing the lighter side of startup life as well. Here are seven of the funniest and more dead-on spoofs of the startup life.

1.  Most Painfully Dead-On: Startup Guys

"Pivot!" shout the two "startup guys" at the center of this hilarious College Humor spoof, employing every jargony term in the book while pitching, among other things "a Nokia-based smartphone app called fivesquare. It's like Foursquare but for medical professionals who have HPV."
Watch it and weep about how very true it is all is about certain sectors of the media and startups. 

2.  Best Apple Parody: Carrot

Justly lauded for their design innovations, Apple has also completely changed the world of advertising with their sleek and simple commercials that fetishize every inch of their gleaming white products.
Carrot, then is a perfect parody. "From the moment you pick up your Carrot, you’ll notice the care and attention that went into every detail," says the copy on the site. "The unique texture, the striking colors and the pleasing crunch provide a world class experience for each of your senses."

Jaimie Trueblood/HBO

3.  Most Filled With Hidden Truths: Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is an episodic comedy from HBO that skewers the startup life, but actually provides a number of valuable lessons along the way. In the series pilot, we learn that in the process of creating a somewhat inconsequential app that runs musical selections against a database of copyrighted works, Richard and his cohorts have actually stumbled upon a significant "lossless" file compression algorithm that could become the basis of a billion dollar business. Gavin Belson, the CEO of a Facebook or Google-like conglomerate Hooli quickly offers $10 million for the startup, while eccentric venture capitalist Peter Gregory says he will give Richard a mere $250,000 but will only control 5% of the company. The question of control or quick cash bedevils Richard over the course of the first episode.
Richard sweats the decision and it's certainly one that many entrepreneurs grapple with: take the money and run, or stay true to your original vision? If you're lucky enough to have a venture capitalist waving cash at you, consider the advice of 20x200 founder Jen Bekman: "Do you want a smaller part of something big or a bigger part of something small?" 

4.  Best Use of Dinosaurs: FAKE GRIMLOCK

Started as a popular Twitter account, describe as "ME GIANT ROBOT STARTUP DINOSAUR! WRITE CODE, DRINK COFFEE, KICK ASS," FAKE GRIMLOCK skewers the fast-paced world of tech startups but also provides some valuable information along the way. 
To wit, this bit of startup advice from FAKE GRIMLOCK:
CHANCE OF ANYTHING FAIL 90%. UNLESS STARTUP. THEN IT 110%.
STUPID PEOPLE TOO DUMB FOR ODDS. THEM JUST ASSUME NEXT THING WILL WORK.
STOP BEING WHINY BABY, CRY ABOUT FAIL. BE STUPID! ASSUME NEXT TIME YOU WIN!
EVEN IF FAILED LAST TIME. AND TIME BEFORE. AND TIME BEFORE THAT.
EVEN IF CHANCE OF WIN ALMOST NOTHING.
CHANCE IF NOT TRY EXACTLY NOTHING.

It's That for This.

5.  Best Solution for the Uncreative: It's That For This 

A funny engine for developing nutty startup ideas, while away a few minutes from your own business concerns with It's That for This.  

6.  Most Potentially Useful? Nonstartr

Having trouble coming up with a snappy elevator pitch? You'll want to consult Nonstartr -- it will instantly give you something buzzworthy to say at parties. 

Vooza

7.  Best Time-Suck: Vooza

Are you addicted to productivity porn? There's help for you in this hilarious parody from the startup-comic-video startup Vooza.