Startup Postmortem Database

Searchable database of startup failures, what killed them and the lesson.

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A searchable database of notable startup failures, what killed them and the lesson founders take away. Learn from others' expensive mistakes. Add a postmortem you know.

SearchSectorPrimary reason

Company▲	Sector	Raised	Primary reason	Lesson
Beepi	Marketplace	$150M	Burned cash	Overspent on ops in low-margin used cars
Better Place	Cleantech	$850M	Capital intensity	Battery-swap infra too costly to scale
Fast	Fintech	$120M	Burned cash	Spend vastly outran tiny revenue
Homejoy	Marketplace	$40M	Unit economics	Leakage: customers + cleaners went direct
Jawbone	Hardware	$930M	Ran out of cash	Burned capital in a commoditising market
Juicero	Hardware	$120M	No market need	$400 press squeezed bags you could squeeze by hand
Pets.com	Ecommerce	$300M	Unit economics	Sold below cost, shipped heavy goods
Quibi	Media	$1.75B	No market need	Mobile-only short-form premium had no audience
Shyp	Logistics	$62M	Unit economics	Flat fee couldn't cover real shipping cost
Theranos	Healthtech	$700M	Fraud / tech failed	Tech that never worked; deception unravels

10 of 10 entries shown. Know one we're missing? Add it below — it stays in your browser.

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Building a startup? Study why famous companies failed and the lessons behind them so you can avoid the same expensive mistakes.

About Startup Postmortem Database

The fastest way to avoid an expensive mistake is to study the ones others already made. This searchable database collects notable startup failures, what killed them, and the lesson founders take away.

How to use Startup Postmortem Database

1Search or use the filters to narrow the startup-postmortem database.
2Click any column heading to sort and rank the entries.
3Export the results to CSV for your own analysis.
4Spot something missing? Add an entry — it stays in your browser.

Why use Startup Postmortem Database?

✓A curated, searchable startup-postmortem database you can filter and sort in seconds.
✓Export the results to CSV for your own spreadsheets and reports.
✓Add entries we're missing — your additions stay private in your browser.
✓Completely free, with no account or download required.

Frequently asked questions

Why do most startups fail?+

The most common reasons are no real market need, running out of cash, weak unit economics and being out-competed. The database tags each failure by its primary cause.

Can I learn from startup postmortems?+

Yes — recurring patterns are visible across failures and are far cheaper to learn from second-hand than first-hand.

Is the startup postmortem database free to use?+

Yes. It is completely free, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up. Any data point you add stays on your device — nothing is uploaded.

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