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When to throw in the towel?

When to throw in the towel?

A presentation on when it might be time to give up on your startup.

Ricardo J. Méndez

October 12, 2019
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  1. When to throw in
    the towel?
    Ricardo J. Méndez

    [email protected]

    @argesric

    October 12, 2019

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  2. ● Technical Director @ Samsung NEXT
    ● Venture investments on software
    innovation, early stage
    ● Recovering entrepreneur
    ● Software engineer
    ● Privacy and open source advocate
    Who am I?

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  3. Speaking, not a speech.
    What are we talking about?

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  4. When to throw in the towel?
    What are we talking
    about?

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  5. Failure states and how to spot them.
    What are we talking about?

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  6. Failure is defined by what you want to
    achieve.
    What are we talking about?

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  7. Know what you want to achieve. 


    Keep going for as long as it is
    achievable.
    What are we talking about?

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  8. When to throw in the towel?
    Failure states

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  9. If it’s not running out of money, it’s
    not a startup.
    Failure states

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  10. “A startup is an organization formed
    to search for a repeatable and
    scalable business model.”
    Failure states
    — Steve Blank

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  11. ● When the market invalidates your
    premises.
    ● When you missed your window.
    ● When the timing is wrong.
    ● When you are the wrong person for
    the job.
    ● When you end up running the wrong
    kind of business.
    ● When you have commitment issues.
    ● When you are a zombie.
    When to stop
    searching?

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  12. Not on this list: investors passing.
    Failure states

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  13. When your premises are invalidated.
    Failure states

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  14. When you missed your window.
    Failure states

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  15. When the timing is wrong.
    Failure states

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  16. When you are the wrong person for
    the job.
    Failure states

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  17. When you end up running the wrong
    kind of business.
    Failure states

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  18. When you have commitment issues.
    Failure states

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  19. When you are a zombie.
    Failure states

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  20. When to throw in the towel?
    Anything I missed?
    Ricardo J. Méndez

    [email protected]

    @argesric

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