Biggest Costliest Startup Failures Of All Time

CBINSIGHTS running list of “the biggest, costliest startup failures of all time.”

Bias lending and investment decisions couldn’t save these companies from themselves. The vast credentials of undergraduate degrees and advanced degrees couldn’t save these companies from themselves. So-called superior business planning couldn’t save these companies from themselves. Expert boards of directors and advisors couldn’t save these companies from themselves. The proverbial lack of diversity in senior leadership couldn’t save these companies from themselves. Extensive individual life experiences couldn’t save these companies from themselves. Optimism couldn’t save these companies from themselves. Complacency couldn’t save these companies from themselves, nor could passion, arrogance, sex sells strategies, empathy, or the timing that these companies were erected could save them from themselves. And finally, nor could a seemingly great idea save these companies from themselves.

So, what could have saved the biggest and costliest startup failures of all time from themselves? Who knows — aside from what we already know that didn’t work for these RIP startups and enterprises, perhaps lots of prayer and a little luck may have changed some of their demises.