startup graveyard
/ˈstɑːrtʌp ˈɡreɪvjɑːrd/
CommonThe collective memory of failed startups, used to warn against repeating their mistakes.
Can be sobering or cynical. Sometimes used by founders to acknowledge risk. Often used by critics to dismiss ideas that remind them of previous failures.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | cool idea but the startup graveyard is full of on-demand laundry apps. | This kind of startup has failed repeatedly and this one will likely follow. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | rip to another one. startup graveyard claims another victim. | A company has shut down, joining the long list of failed startups. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | before you build this, go spend an hour in the startup graveyard. juicero exists. | Research past failures before assuming your idea is new. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | we raised 40m and still ended up in the startup graveyard. money doesn't fix product-market fit. | Even significant funding couldn't save the company from failure. | linkedin, 2024 |
Use it when
- A new startup is launching something that sounds like a past failure.
- You want to acknowledge the risk of building something.
- Discussing why most startups fail.
Do not use it when
- You mean a specific company failed.
- You're talking about a business that closed but was never a startup.
Origin and context
The term predates modern tech culture but became common in startup communities after the dot-com crash, when many well-funded companies folded rapidly. Sites like Killed by Google and CB Insights failure reports made the concept more concrete.
- First seen
- early-2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/startup-graveyardUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0