Exponential Organizations

Towards a billion-dollar valuation

In the book ‘Exponential Organizations: Why new organizations are ten times better, faster, and cheaper than yours (and what to do about it)’, Salim Ismail explains exactly why new companies outperform traditional ones.

Companies like Google, Facebook, Tesla, and Uber all reached a billion-dollar valuation 2 to 10 times faster than the average Fortune 500 company. Even more striking: the younger the company, the faster the growth. But how exactly do they make the difference?

What are Exponential Organizations?

Exponential Organizations (ExOs) are companies that leverage technology, data, and network effects to scale rapidly. Instead of growing linearly, they deliver impact that far exceeds the resources they invest.

Characteristics of exponential companies

According to Ismail, ExOs share some core characteristics:

• A Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP) – a bold, inspiring mission that attracts people.
• External assets – they rarely own the resources they use.
• Data first – learning and adapting through real-time insights.
• Decentralized decision-making – speed over structure.

These traits allow them to move fast, stay flexible, and scale quickly.

What traditional companies can learn

Many established companies struggle with innovation. Built on stability and process, they often lack the agility to adapt. But by applying elements of the ExO model, they can regain momentum. This could mean setting up innovation teams, embracing external platforms, or experimenting with new models outside the core organization.

Why this book matters for digital product development

If you’re building digital products, this book is packed with insights. It challenges you to think beyond the backlog and towards real impact. What is your MTP? And how can you use technology to scale that impact, fast?

At GlobalOrange, we integrate ExO principles into our daily work. Our GOdna development framework is designed to deliver scalable, future-ready digital products with speed and strategic clarity.

Ready to grow exponentially? Start here

If you want to learn how to grow like an Exponential Organization, this book is your starting point. And for more insights on digital strategy and growth, subscribe to our newsletter.