How Snapchat Became The Breakout Consumer Product Of 2013

Last year, as 2012 ended, I scanned the early-stage startup landscape and tried to identify one company that was a breakout for the year -- I ultimately selected Stripe, and explained why, here. I liked the thought-exercise so much I decided to do it again this year, and it didnt take much deliberation to choose Snapchat -- in my personal opinion, the clear breakout consumer product of 2013.The framework is provided courtesy of Fred Wilson, a high-level litmus test that, when applied, starts to make the improbable seem obvious in hindsight: