Product problems
Product problems: 19 startups that closed for this reason, with their stories and lessons.
19 startups
Humane
Maker of the AI Pin, a wearable SI device meant to replace the phone
Closed2015 – 2025Northvolt
The Swedish manufacturer that aimed to become Europe's electric-vehicle battery giant
Closed2015 – 2024Arrival
A British company that aimed to build electric delivery vans and buses in microfactories
Closed2016 – 2024Fisker Inc.
The car start-up behind designer Henrik Fisker's electric SUV, the Ocean
Closed2013 – 2023Zymergen
The company that set out to make materials from microorganisms using genomics and machine learning
Closed2014 – 2020ScaleFactor
The start-up that raised $100 million on the promise of automating accounting with super intelligence
Closed2014 – 2019Seven Dreamers Laboratories
The bankrupt maker of Laundroid, a fridge-sized laundry-folding robot
Closed1999 – 2017Jawbone
The USD 3 billion hardware company behind headsets, speakers and fitness trackers
Closed2013 – 2017Juicero
The $699 internet-connected juicer that squeezed fruit packs sold on subscription
Closed2013 – 2017Yik Yak
The campus app that let users post anonymously to everyone within 8 kilometres
Closed2011 – 2016Clinkle
The mobile payments start-up that raised a record seed round but never shipped a product
Closed2013 – 2016Skully
The hardware start-up that sank before it could deliver its augmented-reality motorcycle helmet
Closed2013 – 201537coins
A start-up that wanted to give the unbanked millions a bitcoin wallet by text message
Closed2013 – 2015Secret
The mobile social app for sharing anonymous messages with your circle of friends
Closed2014 – 2015Zano
The mini drone billed as Europe's biggest Kickstarter that was never delivered
Closed2010 – 2014Mt. Gox
The Tokyo exchange that once handled most of the world's bitcoin trading
Closed2011 – 2013PostRocket
A marketing tool from young founders that promised to boost the reach of Facebook posts
Closed2010 – 2012Color Labs
The proximity photo-sharing app that raised $41 million and could not keep its users
Closed2005 – 2008Monitor110
A New York start-up that set out to filter the internet's flood of information for investors
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This section is compiled from public sources (Wikidata, news archives and company announcements). Figures are given as they appear in those sources; unknown fields are left blank. If you spot a mistake in an entry, you can send us a correction.