Failure intelligence, not failure trivia Monday, July 27, 2026
F Failurepedia

Research surface

The Failure Lab

Explore the recurring patterns behind 239 documented failures. Pick a domain, decade, cause, or collapse pattern and every view re-scopes around the same question. Aggregate claims link back to the cases behind them. How the data is built.

239 published cases · 8 domains · median 4 sources per case · coverage & methodology

All failures

239 of 239 cases
No filters applied.

Findings from the archive

Findings

  • The most common root cause in this view is stronger competitor, in 63 of 239 cases. n=239
  • Failures here sit most often at the strategy layer (104 of 239). n=239
  • Median lifespan in this view is 64 months (239 cases with a recorded lifespan). n=239
  • Failure to adapt most often appears with stronger competitor (17 cases in this view). n=17

Failure landscape

Preventability by collapse speed

TechnologyStartupCorporateMediaTransportationFinanceConsumer productInfrastructure
Collapse speed →Preventability →GradualRapidSuddenHighMediumLow3dfx — Semiconductors, Technology, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventability42Floors — Commercial Real Estate, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityA&P (Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) — Grocery Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityA123 Systems — Energy Storage, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityAereo — Streaming Media, Media, Environment layer, Sudden collapse, Medium preventabilityAir Berlin — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityAirware — Drones, Technology, Strategy layer, Sudden collapse, Medium preventabilityAlcatel-Lucent — Telecommunications Equipment, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityAlitalia — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityAltaVista — Web Search, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityAmazon Fire Phone — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityAmazon Restaurants — Food Delivery, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityAmazon Spark — Social Commerce, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityAnki — Consumer Robotics, Consumer product, Strategy layer, Sudden collapse, Medium preventabilityAnsett Australia — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityAOL–Time Warner — Media & Internet, Media, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityApp.net — Social Media, Startup, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityApple AirPower — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityApple Maps (2012 launch) — Software (Mapping), Technology, Execution layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityApple Newton (MessagePad) — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityApple Ping — Social Media, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityArcandor — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityAtrium — Legal Technology, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityBalanced Payments — Payments, Startup, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityBarneys New York — Luxury Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityBeepi — Used-Car Marketplace, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityBeme — Social Media, Startup, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBenQ Mobile — Mobile Phones, Technology, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityBerlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) — Aviation & Public Infrastructure, Infrastructure, Governance layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityBethlehem Steel — Steel, Corporate, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBetter Place — Electric Vehicles, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityBiosphere 2 — Environmental Science, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBird — Micromobility, Transportation, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBlab — Live Streaming, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityBlack Bottom and Paradise Valley — Urban Renewal, Infrastructure, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBlackBerry — Smartphones, Technology, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityBlackBerry PlayBook — Tablets, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityBlockbuster — Video Rental, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBoo.com — E-commerce, Startup, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityBorders — Bookstore Retail, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityBraniff International — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityBump — Consumer Mobile Apps, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityCircuit City — Retail, Corporate, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityCNN+ — Streaming Media, Media, Environment layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityCoda Automotive — Automotive, Transportation, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityCold fusion (1989) — Scientific Research, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityColor Labs (Color app) — Photo Sharing, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityComet — Electronics Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityCommodore International — Home Computers, Technology, Governance layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityCompaq — Personal Computers, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityConcorde — Aviation, Transportation, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityCoolest Cooler — Consumer Products, Consumer product, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityCrystal Pepsi — Beverages, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityCueCat — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityCyanogen Inc — Mobile Software, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityDaewoo Group — Conglomerate, Corporate, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityDaimlerChrysler — Automotive, Transportation, Governance layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityDebenhams — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityDeLorean Motor Company — Automotive, Transportation, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityDenver Airport Automated Baggage System — Aviation & Systems Engineering, Infrastructure, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityDick Smith Electronics — Retail, Corporate, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityDigg — Social Media, Media, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityDigital Equipment Corporation (DEC) — Computing, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityDoppler Labs — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityEllo — Social Media, Startup, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityEncyclopaedia Britannica — Reference Publishing, Media, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityEssential — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityeToys.com — E-commerce, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityEuropean Super League — Sports & Entertainment, Media, Governance layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityEverpix — Consumer Software (Photography), Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityExec — On-Demand Services, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityF.W. Woolworth — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityFab.com — E-commerce, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityFacebook Home — Mobile Software, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityFacebook M — Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityFacebook Paper — Consumer Software, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityFacebook Poke — Social Media, Technology, Thesis layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityFisker Automotive — Automotive, Transportation, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityFlip Video — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityFlybe — Aviation, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityFokker — Aircraft Manufacturing, Transportation, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityFord Edsel — Automotive, Transportation, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityForever 21 — Apparel Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityFriendster — Social Media, Media, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityFry's Electronics — Electronics Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityGilt Groupe — Flash-Sale Ecommerce, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityGoogle Allo — Messaging, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityGoogle Buzz — Social Networking, Technology, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityGoogle Daydream — Virtual Reality, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityGoogle Glass — Wearables, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityGoogle Inbox — Communication Software, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityGoogle Reader — Software, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityGoogle Stadia — Cloud Gaming, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityGoogle Wave — Communication Software, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityGoogle+ — Social Media, Media, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityGoPro Karma — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityGrooveshark — Music Streaming, Startup, Governance layer, Sudden collapse, Medium preventabilityGroupon — Local Commerce, Technology, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityGrundig — Consumer Electronics, Consumer product, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityHanjin Shipping — Container Shipping, Transportation, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityHD DVD — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilityHipmunk — Travel Search, Startup, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityHMV — Music Retail, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityHomejoy — On-demand Services, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityHouseparty — Social Media, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityHP TouchPad — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Execution layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityIGTV — Social Media, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityIridium (original) — Satellite Communications, Infrastructure, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityJ.C. Penney (Ron Johnson era) — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityJaiku — Social Media, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityJawbone — Consumer Hardware, Startup, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityJet Airways — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityJibo — Consumer Robotics, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityJuicero — Consumer Hardware, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityKiko — Productivity Software, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityKingfisher Airlines — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityKlout — Social Media Analytics, Startup, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityKmart — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityKnight Capital — Trading & Market-Making, Finance, Execution layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityKodak — Photography, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityKozmo.com — On-demand Delivery, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityLehman Brothers — Investment Banking, Finance, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityLibra / Diem (Meta's cryptocurrency) — Cryptocurrency, Finance, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityLong-Term Capital Management — Hedge Funds, Finance, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityLoopt — Location-Based Social, Startup, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityLuxe — Transportation, Startup, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityLytro — Cameras, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityMagic Leap — Augmented Reality, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityMaple — Food Delivery, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityMaplin — Electronics Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityMarconi (GEC) — Telecommunications Equipment, Corporate, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityMcDonald's Arch Deluxe — Fast Food, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityMeerkat — Social Media, Startup, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilityMeta Portal — Consumer Electronics, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityMG Rover — Automotive, Transportation, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityMicrosoft Band — Wearables, Technology, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityMicrosoft Bob — Consumer Software, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityMicrosoft Encarta — Reference Software, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityMicrosoft Kin — Mobile Phones, Technology, Strategy layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityMicrosoft Zune — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityMixer — Game Streaming, Media, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityMonarch Airlines — Airlines, Transportation, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilityMontgomery Ward — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityMothercare — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityMoviePass — Movie Subscription, Media, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityMunchery — Food Delivery, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityMySpace — Social Media, Media, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityNapster (original) — Music & File Sharing, Media, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityNasty Gal — E-commerce, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityNetscape — Web Browsers, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilityNew Coke — Beverages, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityNexus Q — Consumer Electronics, Consumer product, Strategy layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityNintendo Virtual Boy — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityNintendo Wii U — Video Game Consoles, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityNokia (mobile phones) — Mobile Phones, Technology, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityNokia N-Gage — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityNortel — Telecommunications Equipment, Technology, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityNorthern Rock — Banking & Mortgages, Finance, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityOlympia & York — Real Estate, Finance, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityOMGPOP — Mobile Games, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityOne.Tel — Telecommunications, Technology, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityOnLive — Cloud Gaming, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityOsborne Computer Corporation — Personal Computers, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityOuya — Video Game Consoles, Technology, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityPan Am — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityParse — Developer Tools, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityPath — Social Media, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityPayless ShoeSource — Footwear Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityPebble — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilityPets.com — E-commerce, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityPhilips CD-i — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityPhlogiston theory — Scientific Research, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilityPier 1 Imports — Home Goods Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityPlayStation Vita — Video Games, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityPolaroid — Photography, Consumer product, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityPolywater — Scientific Research, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityPontiac Aztek — Automotive, Transportation, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityPowa Technologies — Fintech & Mobile Commerce, Startup, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityPrim — On-Demand Laundry, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityQuaker Oats & Snapple — Beverages, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityQuibi — Streaming Media, Media, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityQuirky — Consumer Products, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityRadioShack — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityRBS and the ABN AMRO Acquisition — Banking, Finance, Governance layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityRdio — Music Streaming, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityRethink Robotics — Robotics, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilitySaab Automobile — Automotive, Transportation, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityScaleFactor — Fintech, Startup, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilitySchlecker — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilitySears (Lampert era) — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilitySecret — Anonymous Social, Startup, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilitySeeso — Streaming Media, Media, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilitySega Dreamcast — Video Game Consoles, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilitySegway PT — Personal Transportation, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityShyp — Logistics, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilitySidecar — Ridesharing, Startup, Environment layer, Gradual collapse, Low preventabilitySilicon Graphics (SGI) — Computing Hardware, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilitySilicon Valley Bank — Banking, Finance, Governance layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilitySinclair C5 — Electric Vehicles, Transportation, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilitySolyndra — Solar Energy, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilitySony Betamax — Consumer Electronics, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilitySpoonRocket — Food Delivery, Startup, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilitySprig — Food Delivery, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilitySteam Machines — Video Games, Technology, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilitySun Microsystems — Enterprise Computing, Technology, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilitySwissair — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilitySydney Opera House — Public Architecture & Construction, Infrastructure, Governance layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityTarget Canada — Retail, Corporate, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityTata Nano — Automotive, Transportation, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityTesco Fresh & Easy — Grocery Retail, Corporate, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityThe Gateway Mall — Urban Renewal, Infrastructure, Execution layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityThe Lower Hill District — Urban Renewal, Infrastructure, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityThe Oak Street Connector — Urban Renewal, Infrastructure, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityThe Pei Plan — Urban Renewal, Infrastructure, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityThe Pueblo Center Redevelopment Project — Urban Renewal, Infrastructure, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityThomas Cook — Travel & Tourism, Transportation, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityTower Records — Music Retail, Media, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityToys "R" Us — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityTurntable.fm — Social Music, Startup, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityTutorspree — Online Tutoring, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityVerizon go90 — Streaming Video, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityVertu — Consumer Electronics, Consumer product, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityVessel — Streaming Media, Media, Thesis layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityViddy — Video Sharing (Social Media), Startup, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Low preventabilityVine — Social Media, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityWalmart Germany — Retail, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityWang Laboratories — Computing, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityWashington Mutual (WaMu) — Banking, Finance, Governance layer, Sudden collapse, High preventabilityWashio — On-Demand Laundry, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityWebvan — Online Grocery, Startup, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityWindows Phone — Mobile Operating Systems, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityWindows Vista — Operating Systems, Technology, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityWOW air — Airlines, Transportation, Strategy layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityXerox and the personal computer — Computing, Corporate, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityYahoo — Internet, Technology, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, High preventabilityYahoo Screen — Streaming Media, Media, Strategy layer, Gradual collapse, Medium preventabilityYik Yak — Social Media, Startup, Thesis layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventabilityZano — Drones, Consumer product, Execution layer, Rapid collapse, High preventabilityZynga — Social Gaming, Technology, Environment layer, Rapid collapse, Medium preventability
Table view
Case counts by preventability and collapse speed
GradualRapidSudden
High355311
Medium77424
Low980

Pattern finder

Which causes travel together

Root causes that appear together, ranked. Counts are descriptive, not causal; pairs below 5 are shown but marked thin.

Cause pair (appears with)CasesExamples
Failure to adapt + Stronger competitor17a-and-p, amazon-restaurants, ansett-australia
Failure to adapt + Strategic drift12blockbuster, comet, debenhams
Excessive expansion + Unsustainable economics11air-berlin, bird-scooters, kozmo-com
No real demand + Stronger competitor11airware, app-net, beme
No real demand + Poor execution11color-labs, crystal-pepsi, facebook-home
No real demand + Unsustainable economics8beepi, ello, facebook-m
Information failure + Poor execution7apple-maps, black-bottom-paradise-valley, google-buzz
Bad timing + No real demand6cnn-plus, magic-leap, omgpop
Debt burden + Failure to adapt6barneys-new-york, daewoo, maplin
Strategic drift + Unsustainable economics6fab-com, kingfisher-airlines, moviepass
Failure to adapt + Poor execution5arcandor, borders, circuit-city
Platform dependency + Poor execution5apple-ping, blackberry-playbook, fisker-automotive

Failure explorer

The archive at a glance

Cases by decade

1790s1
1950s1
1960s1
1970s3
1980s9
1990s15
2000s46
2010s138
2020s25

Cases by domain

Technology76
Startup50
Corporate32
Transportation26
Media23
Consumer product13
Infrastructure10
Finance9

Primary failure layer

Strategy104
Thesis54
Execution35
Environment29
Governance17

Most common root causes

Stronger competitor63
Poor execution58
Unsustainable economics52
No real demand52
Failure to adapt49
Strategic drift31
Excessive expansion22
Information failure21

Median lifespan by domain

Corporate462 mo
Infrastructure222 mo
Transportation89 mo
Finance56 mo
Media54 mo
Consumer product49 mo
Technology47 mo
Startup40 mo

Cases in this view

Every case behind the numbers

Pin two to four cases to compare them side by side below.

Showing 1–25 of 239Per page Page 1 of 10
Compare
3dfxTechnologyCompany shutdownRapidHigh78
42FloorsStartupFailed strategyRapidHigh36
A&P (Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company)CorporateBankruptcyGradualMedium1872
A123 SystemsTechnologyBankruptcyGradualMedium132
AereoMediaCompany shutdownSuddenMedium32
Air BerlinTransportationBankruptcyRapidMedium468
AirwareTechnologyCompany shutdownSuddenMedium85
Alcatel-LucentTechnologyFailed acquisitionGradualMedium120
AlitaliaTransportationFailed turnaroundGradualMedium900
AltaVistaTechnologyFailed strategyGradualHigh216
Amazon Fire PhoneTechnologyFailed launchRapidHigh13
Amazon RestaurantsTechnologyMarket withdrawalGradualMedium45
Amazon SparkTechnologyProduct discontinuationRapidHigh23
AnkiConsumer productCompany shutdownSuddenMedium110
Ansett AustraliaTransportationBankruptcyRapidMedium25
AOL–Time WarnerMediaFailed acquisitionRapidMedium96
App.netStartupFailed strategyGradualMedium55
Apple AirPowerTechnologyFailed launchGradualHigh18
Apple Maps (2012 launch)TechnologyFailed launchSuddenHigh2
Apple Newton (MessagePad)TechnologyProduct discontinuationGradualMedium55
Apple PingTechnologyProduct discontinuationGradualHigh25
ArcandorCorporateBankruptcyGradualMedium120
AtriumStartupCompany shutdownRapidHigh36
Balanced PaymentsStartupCompany shutdownGradualLow48
Barneys New YorkCorporateBankruptcyRapidMedium1150
Data coverage & methodology
Published cases
239
With lifespan
239 (100%)
With start + end dates
239 (100%)
With money data
76 (32%)
Median sources / case
4
Median claims / case
5

The Lab reads only published cases. Money data is too sparse for charts and is shown as coverage only. How the data is built and reviewed.