October 2024

Founder Frights: 5 Kinds of Spooky Characters That Might Give You a Scare in the Startup World

1. “Zombie Startups: When It’s Time to Let Go”

Zombie startups shuffle through the world, neither dead nor alive, but definitely not thriving. If your startup is stuck in perpetual stagnation, it might be time to reconsider its future before you become one of the walking dead founders.

Zombie startups may still have some customers and are technically running, but they’re not growing or evolving. These companies often drain founders’ energy and resources without providing enough momentum to scale or succeed and are a major pain for investors looking to close out & right off the corpse. Learn more about key signs, how to call time of death on a startup, and stories of a few who double-tapped on the pivot to avoid becoming walking dead here.

Advice: Some rules of ZombieStartupLand to take with you…

Rule #7: Travel Light
“Heavy burn rates? Trim the fat—only the essentials survive the apocalypse.”

Rule #17: Don’t Be a Hero
“Sometimes the best move is to step back from your zombie startup and walk away.”

Rule #18: Limber Up
(Meme of a founder stretching) – “Always warm up. You never know when you’ll need to pivot… again.”*

Rule #22: When in Doubt, Know Your Way Out
“Have an exit strategy ready—zombie startups are known to hang on… and on… and on…”

Rule #31: Check the Back Seat
(Meme of a founder looking back nervously) – “Watch out for co-founders who suddenly resurface in zombie mode.”*

2. “Beware of Vampire Investors: Avoiding Bloodsuckers in the Startup World”

Just like a vampire needs fresh blood, some investors seem to feed on your hard work. They’ll offer capital but expect unreasonable control in return. Vampire investors drain more than they give—taking control of your company, demanding high equity and decision making power,, or offering unfavorable terms, with little strategic or network value, and not enough capital to justify the terms.Founders often accept blood-sucking terms out of desperation, but it can lead to a loss of control over the company and ultimately, its mission. Founder-friendly terms are one of the best indicators that your investors will be good team players in the light of day.

Key Signs:

Excessive Equity Demands: Investors asking for too much equity for the amount of capital they’re providing.

Overbearing Control Rights: Investors wanting too much control over board decisions or strategic direction, limiting founder autonomy.

Lack of Value-Add: They offer money but little to no strategic value, connections, or mentorship.

Advice:

Negotiate Smartly: Always seek a balance between capital and control. Try to negotiate terms where equity and decision-making remain in the hands of the founding team.

Choose Investors Carefully: Look for investors who offer more than just money. Opt for those who bring industry expertise, strategic advice, or valuable networks to the table.

Get Legal Advice: Have a good lawyer review term sheets and contracts. Don’t sign anything in haste just because you’re eager for funding. Once you let one blood sucker into your house… it’s hard to stop the bleeding.

3. “Frankenstein Founders: Piecing Together a Misfit Team”

Creating a team that doesn’t fit can lead to chaos, just like Frankenstein’s monster was a patchwork of mismatched parts. Building a startup is like assembling your dream team. But if you piece together co-founders and employees who don’t align in vision, skills, or values, you might end up with a monster instead of a thriving company.

Key Signs:

Conflicting Visions: Co-founders or key team members disagree on the long-term direction of the company.

Skills Gaps: Team members have overlapping strengths but leave critical skill gaps (e.g., no marketing lead in a product-heavy team).
Cultural Mismatch: A lack of shared values or communication styles can lead to misunderstandings and poor decision-making.

Advice:
Founders’ Alignment: Co-founders need to have clear, aligned goals from the outset. This includes both the vision for the company and the personal goals of each founder.

Complementary Skills: Build a team with diverse, complementary skill sets. Your early hires should fill gaps in your expertise, not duplicate strengths.

Culture Fit: Don’t underestimate the importance of cultural fit. Even if someone is highly skilled, if they don’t mesh well with your company culture, it can lead to long-term problems.

4. “The Curse of the Phantom Co-Founder”

 

A phantom co-founder is someone who vanishes when things get tough, leaving the remaining founder(s) to carry the weight of the company on your own. This can cause burnout and resentment, and damage the startup’s chances of success.

Everything seemed great in the beginning, but as soon as the going got tough, your co-founder disappeared like a ghost in the night. You’re now left haunted by their absence, but not the absence of their equity stake, while trying to run the startup alone.

Key Signs:

Lack of Commitment: Early signs might include a lack of follow-through on tasks, frequent unavailability, or a lack of enthusiasm for the company’s growth.

Avoiding Tough Decisions: When difficult challenges arise, the co-founder is nowhere to be found.

Focus on Other Projects: The co-founder may be more invested in side projects or their day job, treating the startup as secondary.

Advice:

Define Roles Early: Clearly define each co-founder’s role and responsibilities from the start. Everyone should know what’s expected of them.

Founder Agreements: Have a formal founder agreement in place that outlines ownership, contributions, and what happens if someone leaves.

Frequent Check-Ins: Regularly assess each other’s commitment and engagement levels. If a co-founder seems disengaged, address it early to avoid larger issues down the line.

5. “Don’t Get Trapped in the Haunted House of Bad Contracts”

Once you’re inside a bad contract, it can feel like you’re stuck in a haunted house with no escape. Bad contracts can haunt you long after they’re signed, with hidden clauses or unfavorable terms locking you into detrimental deals. This can apply to partnerships, vendor agreements, and even investor contracts.

You signed what seemed like a straightforward deal, but now you’re trapped by spooky clauses and unforeseen consequences. Don’t let your startup become the latest victim of haunted contracts!

Key Signs:

Overly Complex Terms: The contract is filled with confusing legalese that makes it hard to understand what you’re really agreeing to.

Hidden Clauses: There are clauses that grant excessive control or penalties that seem unreasonable or hidden in the fine print.

No Exit Strategy: The contract doesn’t allow for an easy way out, leaving you locked in regardless of future changes in circumstances.

Advice:

Read Every Word: Never sign a contract without thoroughly reading and understanding it, even if it feels tedious. Key details are often hidden in the fine print.

Consult a Lawyer: Always have a lawyer review any important contract, especially when it comes to equity, IP ownership, or long-term partnerships.

Negotiate Exit Clauses: Try to negotiate terms that allow you to exit or renegotiate the contract if things don’t work out as planned

Written by Madeline Feldman 

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When to Call Time of Death & How to Revive: Real Stories of Startup Pivots and Comebacks

Every founder dreams of success, but the harsh reality is that approximately 90% of startups fail. While failure isn’t always preventable, recognizing the warning signs early can help you either pivot successfully or make a dignified exit before exhausting all your resources.


The Tell-Tale Signs of a Failing Startup


1. Chronic Cash Flow Problems
You’re constantly worried about making payroll
Runway is shrinking with no clear path to extending it
Customer acquisition costs remain stubbornly high with no improvement in sight
You’re considering taking on high-interest debt just to keep the lights on


2. Market Indifference
Users aren’t as excited about your product as you are
Customer feedback is polite but noncommittal
Free users aren’t converting to paid customers
Your target market requires extensive education about why they need your solution

Turning Setbacks into Success: Inspiring Startup Pivot Stories

Every founder dreams of a successful startup, but statistics are sobering: nearly 90% of startups fail. Failure isn’t always avoidable, but noticing the warning signs early can open doors to a successful pivot or a strategic exit that preserves resources and reputation. Here are powerful stories of startups that turned things around with strategic pivots, and key takeaways for every founder.

The Instagram Transformation

Instagram, now a $1 billion photo-sharing app, began as Burbn, a complicated check-in app resembling Foursquare. But founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger realized something critical from their users’ behavior: people loved the photo-sharing feature far more than any other. Here’s how they pivoted to success:

  • User-Centric Analysis: The team noticed users weren’t engaging with most of Burbn’s features. Instead, photo-sharing and filter options drove the most activity.
  • Bold Simplification: They stripped Burbn down to a single function—photo sharing—and enhanced the experience with easy-to-use filters and a clean, simple interface.
  • Results: Within weeks, Instagram saw massive user growth, catching Facebook’s attention and leading to a $1 billion acquisition in just 18 months.

Slack’s Leap from Gaming to B2B Communication

Slack is another powerful pivot story, emerging from the failure of a gaming company called Tiny Speck. Tiny Speck’s game, Glitch, struggled to gain traction despite millions in investment. But the company’s internal communication tool, created to help the team collaborate, revealed an unexpected potential:

  • Discovery of a Hidden Asset: While Glitch failed, the internal chat tool solved a pain point familiar to many companies.
  • Repackaging for a New Market: The tool became Slack, addressing a universal business need for efficient communication.
  • Results: Slack became one of the fastest-growing B2B companies, reaching a valuation of $7 billion within five years.

How to Execute a Strategic Pivot: Real-World Lessons

Stitch Fix’s Playbook for Market Expansion
Stitch Fix started as a styling service for women but scaled by carefully testing and entering new markets. Here’s how they grew beyond their initial niche:

  • Testing New Markets: They started small, piloting men’s clothing by using existing systems to gauge interest.
  • Gradual Expansion Strategy: With limited initial inventory, they gradually rolled out to select customers, using a waitlist to build demand.
  • Leveraging Core Strengths: Stitch Fix applied their algorithm-based styling to new segments while maintaining high-touch customer service.
  • Metrics and Feedback: Stitch Fix continuously refined its offerings based on customer feedback and tracked success through measurable metrics.

This deliberate, data-driven approach allowed Stitch Fix to expand to men’s, kids’, plus-size, and home goods markets, transforming it into a multi-billion dollar business.

Netflix’s DVD-to-Streaming Evolution

Netflix’s pivot from DVDs to streaming provides a masterclass in transition management. Although not a startup at the time, Netflix’s strategy highlights key steps for founders looking to pivot:

  • Parallel Operations: While DVDs remained profitable, Netflix gradually developed its streaming platform, using DVD rental data to shape streaming offerings.
  • Transparent Communication: Netflix was clear with users about the future, openly sharing updates and changes.
  • Strategic Investment: They built up streaming technology while still benefiting from DVD revenue and invested heavily in content licensing.

Today, Netflix’s streaming service dominates, but it was their careful pivot strategy that helped them make this transition smoothly and effectively.

Reid Hoffman’s Journey from SocialNet to LinkedIn

Reid Hoffman’s story shows that even a failed startup can provide the foundation for future success. Before founding LinkedIn, Hoffman launched SocialNet in 1997, aiming to connect people for both dating and professional networking. SocialNet failed within two years due to several factors:

  • Lack of Focus: SocialNet tried to be both a dating and professional networking platform but lacked a clear direction.
  • Timing and Execution: SocialNet was ahead of its time and couldn’t find traction.
  • Takeaways: From this experience, Hoffman learned the value of focus, timing, and the need for clear audience targeting.

LinkedIn went on to become the leading professional network, and SocialNet’s lessons were instrumental in this success.

Key Takeaway: Failure as a Learning Opportunity

Every failed startup provides lessons that can shape the next venture. Whether by pivoting smartly or learning from what didn’t work, the path of entrepreneurship is rarely straightforward. Embrace each lesson, use your insights, and remember—failure often marks the beginning of a new journey toward a much bigger success story

Owner Jeff Saling start up nv 1

Written by Jeff Saling 

When to Call Time of Death & How to Revive: Real Stories of Startup Pivots and Comebacks Read More »