Well, defining “what is a startup” is complicated. There are different stages that Startups go through – like a child, from newborn to infant to toddler, to terrible two’s etc. I would classify your venture as a “concept-stage, pre-funding” level startup. Each month in Silicon Valley alone, I would estimate there are around 10,000 new ventures that emerge to fall into this class. Some of them go on in that state for months or years; others are funded in one manner or another fairly quickly.

So the key question here is what level of MOMENTUM do you have? How well defined and realistic are your plans? Depending upon what type of business you are starting, it could take months or even years to pull together a fundable venture.

Often the key catalyst is one of the founder, a friend, or a family member provides a little “friends and family” money, it could be as little as $1 to $15k, to get things really moving.

But the short answer is “YES”, as long as you’re really serious and working hard on it; even if you still have a day job (many great startups begin that way).

But the only completely objective answer is, this question can only be answered 100% accurately “in arrears” (after the fact).

Best of luck!