Meaning:

Translated from the English term “gazelle company,” it refers to any fast-growing company in the technology sector, and also possibly in food and beverage, retail, apparel, and other growth industries. Smaller in scale than “unicorns,” these companies are compared to gazelles because these animals are excellent runners. Having a slender build with proportionally long necks and legs, they can reach speeds of 80 kilometers per hour for several hundred meters. This idea was introduced by David Birch to the public in his 1987 book “Job Creation in America.” According to his original technical definition, a gazelle company is a high-growth company that has been increasing its revenues by at least 20% annually for four years or more, starting from a revenue base of at least US$100,000.

Example:

A: 你弟弟今年生意怎么样？

Nǐ dìdi jīnnián shēngyì zěnmeyàng？

How’s your younger brother’s business doing this year?

B: 很不错，他去年参与投资的一家瞪羚企业快上市了。

Hěn búcuò，tā qùnián cānyǔ tóuzī de yījiā dènglíng qǐyè kuài shàngshì le。

Not bad at all. This gazelle company he invested in last year is on track to have an IPO.