Why Startups Fail : And How Yours Can Succeed

For the want-to-be entrepreneur thinking about taking the leap, the boot-strapped entrepreneur trying to energize a business three or four years in, and the venture-backed entrepreneur trying to scale, __Why Startups Fail__ shows you the key mistakes new ventures make—and how to avoid them. Nearly everyone has an idea for a product they could build or a company they could start. But eight out of 10 new businesses fail within the first three years. Even only one in ten venture-backed startups succeeds, and venture capitalists turn down some 99% of the business plans they see. The odds appear to be stacked against you! But entrepreneurs often make the same avoidable mistakes over and over. __Why Startups Fail__ can help you beat the odds and avoid the pitfalls and traps that lead to early startup death. It's easy to point to successes like Apple, Google, and Facebook. But the biggest lessons can come from failure. What decisions were made, and why? What would the founders have done differently? How did one company become a billion-dollar success while another—with a better product and in the same market—fail? Drawing on personal experience as well as the wisdom of the Silicon Valley startup community, serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and blogger **Dave Feinleib** analyzes companies that have come and gone. In short, powerful chapters, he reveals the keys to successful entrepreneurship: Excellent product/market fit, passion, superb execution, the ability to pivot, stellar team, good funding, and wise spending. In __Why Startups Fail__, you'll learn from the mistakes Feinleib has seen made over and over and find out how to position your startup for success. __Why Startups Fail__: * Shows venture-backed startups and boot-strappers alike how to succeed where others fail. * Is equally valuable for companies still on the drawing board as well as young firms taking their first steps. * Takes you through the key decisions and pitfalls that caused startups to fail and what you can learn from their failures. * Covers the critical elements of entrepreneurial success. Annotation For the want-to-be entrepreneur thinking about taking the leap, the boot-strapped entrepreneur trying to energize a business three or four years in, and the venture-backed entrepreneur trying to scale, Why Startups Failshows you the key mistakes new ventures makeand how to avoid them. Nearly everyone has an idea for a product they could build or a company they could start. But eight out of 10 new businesses fail within the first three years. Even only one inten venture-backed startups succeeds, and venture capitalists turn down some 99% of the business plans they see. The odds appear to be stacked against you! But entrepreneurs often make the same avoidable mistakes over and over. Why Startups Failcan help you beat the odds and avoid the pitfalls and traps that lead to early startup death. Its easy to point to successes like Apple, Google, and Facebook. But the biggest lessons can come from failure. What decisions were made, and why? What would the founders have done differently? How did one company become a billion-dollar success while anotherwith a better product and in the same marketfail? Drawing on personal experience as well as the wisdom of the Silicon Valley startup community, serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and bloggerDave Feinleibanalyzes companies that have come and gone. In short, powerful chapters, he reveals the keys to successful entrepreneurship: Excellent product/market fit, passion, superb execution, the ability to pivot, stellar team, good funding, and wise spending. InWhy Startups Fail, youll learn from the mistakes Feinleib has seen made over and over and find out how to position your startup for success. Why Startups Fail:Shows venture-backed startups and boot-strappers alike how to succeed where others fail. Is equally valuable for companies still on the drawing board as well as young firms takingtheir first steps. Takes you through the key decisions and pitfalls that caused startups to fail and what you can learn from their failures. Covers the critical elements of entrepreneurial success. What youll learnAvoid the key mistakes that cause startups to failPitch, raise money, and recruitFind the right marketBuild world-class products that people will useOutrun the competitionKnow when to stay the course and when to pivotWho this book is forWhy Startups Failis for the aspiring entrepreneur who wants to avoid the key mistakes that have caused hundreds of thousands of companies to fail. Why Startups Failwill appeal to venture-backed technology entrepreneurs. It will also appeal strongly to boot-strappers and those who have, by hook or by crook, survived their first three or four years and are starting to hit speed-bumps. Its an excellent choice for entrepreneurs who want the know-how to make themselves and their companies successful for the long term. Table of ContentsPart 1Market, Product, and EntrepreneurChapter 1: Poor Product-Market FitChapter 2: Bad ProductsChapter 3: The Missing EntrepreneurPart 2 Sales and MarketingChapter 4: Investing in Sales and Marketing Too EarlyChapter 5: Losing Money on SalesChapter 6: Invisible StartupsPart 3ExecutionChapter 7: Failing to CommunicateChapter 8: Not Getting StartedChapter 9 Résumé : For the want-to-be entrepreneur thinking about taking the leap, the boot-strapped entrepreneur trying to energize a business three or four years in, and the venture-backed entrepreneur trying to scale, Why Startups Fail shows you the key mistakes new ventures makeand how to avoid them. Nearly everyone has an idea for a product they could build or a company they could start. But eight out of 10 new businesses fail within the first three years. Even only one in ten venture-backed startups succeeds, and venture capitalists turn down some 99% of the business plans they see. The odds appear to be stacked against you! But entrepreneurs often make the same avoidable mistakes over and over. Why Startups Fail can help you beat the odds and avoid the pitfalls and traps that lead to early startup death. It's easy to point to successes like Apple, Google, and Facebook. But the biggest lessons can come from failure. What decisions were made, and why? What would the founders have done differently? How did one company become a billion-dollar success while anotherwith a better product and in the same marketfail? Drawing on personal experience as well as the wisdom of the Silicon Valley startup community, serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and bloggerDave Feinleib analyzes companies that have come and gone. In short, powerful chapters, he reveals the keys to successful entrepreneurship : Excellent product/market fit, passion, superb execution, the ability to pivot, stellar team, good funding, and wise spending. In Why Startups Fail, you'll learn from the mistakes Feinleib has seen made over and over and find out how to position your startup for success. Why Startups Fail : Shows venture-backed startups and boot-strappers alike how to succeed where others fail. Is equally valuable for companies still on the drawing board as well as young firms taking their first steps. Takes you through the key decisions and pitfalls that caused startups to fail and what you can learn from their failures. Covers the critical elements of entrepreneurial success Part I. Market, Product, and Entrepreneur -- Poor Product-Market Fit -- Pivot Your Way to a Successful Launch -- Bad Products -- Less Is More -- The Missing Entrepreneur -- Market Visionary and Product Picker -- Part II. Sales and Marketing -- Investing in Sales and Marketing Too Early -- Know When to Spend-and When Not To -- Losing Money on Sales -- Put Sales Leverage to Work for You -- Invisible Startups -- Market Your Startup Without Incinerating Cash -- Part III. Execution -- Failing to Communicate -- Words Matter -- Not Getting Started -- How to Get Your Company Off the Ground -- Failing to Execute -- Lessons on Growth -- Part IV. Capital and Liquidity -- Pitches That Fail -- Perfect Your Pitch -- Managing Liquidity -- Get Paid for Your Work -- From Failure, Success -- Mistakes: The Stepping Stones to Startup Victory.