Key Factors Contributing to Startup Failure in the Early Stages
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17270797Keywords:
Startup, Ecosystem, Risk of FailureAbstract
Startups are often seen as the engines of innovation and economic growth, yet the majority of them don't survive beyond their early years. This research explores why so many promising ventures fail to achieve long-term sustainability. Drawing on academic studies, industry reports, and real-world examples, this paper identifies the key contributors to early-stage startup failure: market misalignment, poor financial planning, weak leadership, and an inability to adapt. By examining case studies such as Theranos, Quibi, and Jawbone, this paper not only analyzes failure patterns but also offers practical strategies to help founders avoid common pitfalls and improve their odds of success.
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References
CB Insights. (2021). The 20 reasons why startups fail.
Financial Times. (n.d.). The surprising truth about failure in business.
Wall Street Journal. (n.d.). Failure museum: The man obsessed with startups' failures. https://failure.museum/about/media/
Sequoia Capital. (n.d.). Jawbone: The rise and fall of a fitness startup. https://www.sequoiacap.com/podcast/crucible-moments-jawbone/
MoneyControl. (n.d.). Theranos: The rise and fall of a health tech giant. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/explainer-theranos-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-silicon-valley-healthcare-tech-start-up-743783
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gitanjali Thakur, Halima Sadia Md Saghir, Manisha Shiledar, Snehal Bhosale, Nilam More
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Research Articles in 'International Journal of Engineering and Management Research' are Open Access articles published under the Creative Commons CC BY License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. This license allows you to share – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
