What Goes Wrong
Author: Jessica Livingston (YC co-founder) Published: 2012 URL: https://www.founderstribune.org/p/what-goes-wrong-by-jessica-livingston
Summary
Drawing from funding 467 YC startups, Livingston maps the “tunnel of monsters” that kill startups. The fiercest monster is failing to make something people want. Other killers: lack of determination, cofounder disputes, investor herd mentality, distracting acquisition talks, and the emotional rollercoaster. Rich with specific examples from Airbnb, Pebble, Stripe, Lockitron, and Codecademy.
Key Claims
- Determination (resilience + drive) is the foundational survival trait
- Cofounder disputes are underestimated killers — don’t pair hastily
- Investors have herd mentality — you need contrarian first believers
- Making something people want is the “fiercest monster” — most fail here
- Early rejection is universal — even the most successful startups faced it
- Focus ruthlessly during early stages on building + talking to users