Do startups slow down because they get bigger or because decisions get slower?

Something I’ve been noticing across startups is that they rarely run out of ideas as they grow.

What they quietly start losing is decision speed.

In the early days, decisions are fast. There are fewer people involved, less need for alignment, and a higher tolerance for uncertainty.

As the company grows, things start to change. More conversations, more validation, more alignment. Each step makes sense on its own.

But collectively, they slow everything down.

And decision velocity is one of the biggest advantages a young company has.

Startups don’t usually win by being the most certain. They win by learning faster than everyone else.

Which means making decisions before everything is perfectly clear and then adjusting quickly when they’re wrong.

Curious to hear from others here:

Where have you seen decision-making slow down the most?
Early-stage startups, or larger companies?