Not all startups are built the same. Which category defines yours?

Every founder has had this moment.

You’re halfway through an award application form, confidently filling in your startup’s name, website, founding year and financials, until you hit the category section:

Are you a tech startup or a consumer brand? Does being profitable matter more than being innovative? If you’re bootstrapped, are you competing against venture-backed companies? What if your business started in D2C but now uses AI heavily? And where exactly do you fit if your venture doesn’t look like the stereotypical startup?