First Mover
Noun · Startup & VC
Definitions
A company that enters a market or category before most competitors, often hoping to build brand, distribution, or network effects early. Being first can help, but only if the company can defend and capitalize on the lead.
In plain English: A company that gets into a market before most competitors.
Example: "They were a first mover in the category, but later entrants out-executed them on product quality."