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Why your start-up will fail

WIL SCHROTER

Forbes.com

Latest comment posted at 12:18 PM EST 11/10/07

Just two-thirds of all start-ups see their second birthdays, and less than half make it to their fourth. ...Read the full article

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  1. Shawn Petriw from Prince George, Canada writes: I'm not sure the Dell example is a good one. Also, perhaps Apple should have stuck to building computers and left "consumer electronics" to the experts like Sony, and telephones to Nokia.
  2. Alan Wong from Canada writes: "Shawn Petriw from Prince George, Canada writes: I'm not sure the Dell example is a good one. Also, perhaps Apple should have stuck to building computers and left "consumer electronics" to the experts like Sony, and telephones to Nokia. "

    Hi Shawn, i don't think Apple should have done that. If you read the entire article look under the advice "Identify The Real Opportunities", it says not to be afraid to switch focus onto the real potential areas, instead of what you are mediocre at. And anyways, Apple's strength isn't 'computers' or 'consumer electronics'. It's UI and design.
  3. Philippe Davidson from Canada writes: There are typical development stages for a start-up. First, the "pioneers" (most often "techie" people) get excited by any new technology, but move on to the next innovation just as fast. Second, there are the "Visionaries" that seek to introduce change in their organizations by leveraging technological innovation as "special" project extensions to the base technology. It is true, as this article mentions, that the visionaries can make a start-up lose focus; however, they are invaluable in the start-ups development process by providing real test beds for the technologies with a fair degree of tolerance for technological "growing pains". The key is for the entrepreneurs to manage the expectations of these visionaries, which can be very difficult since it is like dreamers trying to restrain other dreamers.
  4. ghostofpatbuchanen buchanen from Victoria, Canada writes: I'm dying to know: What, exactly, is Home Despot good at?
  5. D K from Canada writes: " Shawn Petriw from Prince George, Canada writes: I'm not sure the Dell example is a good one. Also, perhaps Apple should have stuck to building computers and left "consumer electronics" to the experts like Sony, and telephones to Nokia"

    Are you kidding? Sony electronics are crap. Any Sony products I have owned are overpriced and cheaply made. Never Sony again.
  6. Oh Brother from Waterloo, Canada writes: Based on my own experience with a few start up companies, I think Luck and Timing are the most import problems that a Startup faces all the time. I worked for one startup in California and they could have gone IPO at the height of the bubbles and they decided to wait as they have a 200 millions of cash and equivalent sitting around but when the bubble bursted, their cash and equivalent suddenly went to $40 millions and eventually they run low on money and was bought for very cheap with a lot of layoff. Another company I went to that got their funding just before 9/11 and they survive and went IPO. If they did not get their funding before 9/11, that company would have been gone and it would not matter what they do. So Luck and Timing has a lot to do it.
  7. MIT From SW ONT from Canada writes: So sad - Nobody dreams of making anything anymore - Just cyberbits and stock prices. Marketing and Manufacturing for consumers has died a quietdeath in North America

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