After launching Some Start ups fail. Get over it! Yesterday I have been having interesting conversations on twitter. Once such conversation centered around the fact that even big companies like Google launch start up’s that they put millions of pounds into launching and even they fail. After this discussion, I thought that I would research a bit further have discovered 4 Google failures:
1) Google Wave – Launched in 2009 Google Wave was a collaboration tool that was set to bring together all forms of social communication and putting them in one place enabling users to talk, discuss, interact, start a conversation, join a conversation, share docs etc. I remember sitting with a friend of mine who works at Google PR, as he was e-mailing me an invite to Google Wave, he was telling me how Google Wave was going to be huge and how people of our age (30′s) will not ‘get it’ but the younger one’s will. However, despite it’s hype Google Wave was failed and closed down.
2) Google Nexus One – Google Nexus One was launched in order to get a feel for Android application and to see what user uptake would be. Google decided not to continue with the project.
3) Jaiku is a service along the same lines of Twitter, it didnt take off. It is still in existence but Google have decided not to continue developing the project.
4) Google Answers - similar to Yahoo Answers. Basically, just did not work out.
Many entrepreneurs give themselves a hard time over their own start ups that just don’t work out. Nevertheless, it just goes to show that the might, power, number of users and finances of Google does not always result in success.
I am sure that there are many more BIG businesses that have launched projects that have failed. If you know of any, post a comment and let me know!
If you are an entrepreneur who has had a failed start up do check out www.somestartupsfail.com
I am 31 years old and I have a dream. Well, it’s not simply a dream, it is a burning desire to create a successful business that has a purpose and makes money. I have had one business, tribewanted.com, which has done well. Tribewanted.com was in the global media and became 5 part prime time TV Show. Not bad. However, since tribewanted.com, I have launched two other start ups which have failed.
Despite the fact that these failed start ups have provided the opportunity to speak in front of investors, senior people at major companies and even a place on an incubator course, they still failed. The fear of failure is the most crippling feeling in the world with the biggest question resounding in my head being whether I am a one trick pony, like other’s have suggested that I may be. This fear can be sickening, literally.
I have had the most outstanding revelation: Failure is not fatal.
I have recently spoke to and learnt from a number of entrepreneurs who have failed, some have even gone bankrupt, but that have carried on, in full force. I have begun to realise that the next Facebook, Groupon or Google will only come about through learning from our failed start ups.
In celebration of my realisation I have launched a little project, it’s not a business, it is a statement. Knowing how I have previously felt about start ups that have failed I have launched ‘Some start up’s fail. Get over it!‘ Entrepreneurs can purchase a ‘Some start ups fail. Get over it!’ T-Shirt and wear it with pride as a reminder to themselves that the may have failed, learn, get off your ass, get over it!
There are many entrepreneurs who may have failed and consequently given up. It is time to re-awaken the entrepreneur within understand that some start ups fail and get over it. In the process, tell others what you have learnt in your start up failure so that we can all learn and build successful businesses.
Get your own ‘Some start ups fail. Get over it!’ T-Shirt and wear it with pride!