Introduction Remember when Google announced Stadia in 2019? The tech world buzzed with excitement. Cloud gaming seemed like the future—play anywhere, on any device, without expensive hardware. As someone who’s launched startups and now invests in them, I watched Stadia with particular interest. Here was
The story of Quiznos is fascinating – a once-thriving sandwich chain that pioneered toasted subs but ultimately crumbled under the weight of its own business model. As someone who’s been a part of the startup ecosystem for a long time, I’ve watched this saga unfold
Social media has transformed how we communicate and share information. Apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become household names. However, some platforms have struggled to find lasting success. One such app was Yik Yak, an anonymous social media platform that allowed users to post
Once upon a time, there was a shiny new startup called PepperTap. It promised to revolutionize grocery delivery in India. With big dreams and even bigger funds, it burst onto the scene ready to take a bite out of the market. But alas, things didn’t
The Concorde was a technological marvel. This supersonic passenger jet could fly at over twice the speed of sound. It made the journey from New York to London in just three and a half hours! Pretty amazing, right? However, despite its amazing capabilities, the Concorde
Today, we’re going to do a deep dive into the curious case of Vine – the pioneering short-video app that took the world by storm, only to wither away almost as quickly as it arrived. Why did such a wildly popular app with a rabidly
Today we’re going to explore one of the most fascinating business puzzles of the modern era – why did YouTube become an absolute juggernaut in online video, while competitors like Vimeo languished in its shadow? As an entrepreneur and early investor in tech companies, I’ve
Frontrow was an ed-tech startup that offered live online classes for hobbies and extracurricular learning. It raised over $17 million from top Silicon Valley investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners and Elevation Capital. Yet, Frontrow shut down operations in 2023 after a four-year journey. Why did
Shyp was a pioneer in the on-demand shipping industry. It offered convenient pickup and delivery services for customers who needed to ship items. Despite its promising start and innovative business model, Shyp ultimately failed and shut down operations in 2018. This post will delve into
Failure sucks, doesn’t it? I mean, who actually wants to fail at something? Nobody starts a company thinking “Gee, I really hope this whole thing crashes and burns.” But sadly, most startups do fail. And when that happens, founders are left picking up the pieces.
India’s buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) sector has seen tremendous growth recently. The idea of paying for purchases in installments without interest has resonated with younger, digital-first consumers. However, growth has come with its fair share of pains. Last week, prominent BNPL startup ZestMoney announced plans to shut
Remember Orkut? Back in the 2000s, the Google-owned social network was all the rage, especially in countries like Brazil and India. But despite its early popularity, Orkut eventually faded into oblivion. So what happened? Why did the once-hot social media platform fizzle out so quickly?
In early 2013, Google unveiled a vision of the future – augmented reality glasses called Google Glass that put a computer and camera right on your face. These futuristic-looking smart glasses promised to change the way we interact with information and connect with each other.
Once a titan of retail, Sears has become a cautionary tale of failure to adapt and innovate. As a researcher following business trends, I wanted to analyze what led to Sears’ downfall and extract lessons that other companies can apply to avoid the same fate.
In the fast-paced world of consumer tech, companies can go from industry darlings to bankrupt has-beens practically overnight. Few companies illustrate this better than Jawbone, makers of the UP fitness tracker. In the span of just a few years, Jawbone went from being valued at
The year was 2017. Bitcoin was booming, the price skyrocketing from under $1,000 to nearly $20,000. Amidst this frenzy, a group of IIT alumni launched Koinex, with the goal of bringing digital currency trading to the Indian masses. Koinex quickly became India’s leading crypto exchange,
Remember Quibi? Unless you’re an avid follower of the rapid rise and fall of video streaming services, the name Quibi may not ring a bell. Quibi was a video streaming platform targeted at millennials that launched in April 2020 and shut down just 6 months
In December 2001, Dean Kamen unveiled the Segway Personal Transporter on ABC’s Good Morning America. The public eagerly awaited this secretive new product that was supposed to revolutionize personal transportation. Kamen confidently said it would be “to the car what the car was to the