2014has just ended, and it has been a tremendously exciting year for the
tech world. We have seen a plethora of new mobile devices, fabulous
gadgets, zany ideas coming from independent designers and intelligent
social networks that tried to tap into our unquenchable thirst for
communication. Some of these launches and startups have been greeted
with open arms by the public, but most of them have failed to see
even a single positive review from users or critics.
Although
many of these budding entrepreneurs have managed to raise the
necessary funds for a launch, their concept lacked in other essential
areas. Whether it was a preposterous idea, the financial plan was
bad, or the marketing campaign was disastrous, the result was seen as
a big stumble, especially when it came from a big name in the
industry. However, as many successful business owners already know,
failures must be embraced as excellent learning opportunities,
although they can bring down the initial enthusiasm and set you back
financially.
many of these budding entrepreneurs have managed to raise the
necessary funds for a launch, their concept lacked in other essential
areas. Whether it was a preposterous idea, the financial plan was
bad, or the marketing campaign was disastrous, the result was seen as
a big stumble, especially when it came from a big name in the
industry. However, as many successful business owners already know,
failures must be embraced as excellent learning opportunities,
although they can bring down the initial enthusiasm and set you back
financially.
Let’s
take a look at some of the most resounding tech startup flops of the
last year:
take a look at some of the most resounding tech startup flops of the
last year:
-
Swing
Copters
Not
exactly a fresh start-up, Swing Copters was created by an independent
designer that initially became famous with another viral iPhone game.
Flappy Bird, as it was known, shocked the online community with its
simple, almost primitive design and frustrating gameplay, but somehow
it became a huge financial success. The creator, stunned by its
success, decided to take it off the platform, but promised to come
back with an improved version. However, when the new follow-up was
announced, it failed to impress even the hardcore fans. The
simplistic design was gone, and normal gameplay replaced the famous
absurdities of the first version. The game simply failed because it
tried to “fix” the original problems that made it popular the
first time.
exactly a fresh start-up, Swing Copters was created by an independent
designer that initially became famous with another viral iPhone game.
Flappy Bird, as it was known, shocked the online community with its
simple, almost primitive design and frustrating gameplay, but somehow
it became a huge financial success. The creator, stunned by its
success, decided to take it off the platform, but promised to come
back with an improved version. However, when the new follow-up was
announced, it failed to impress even the hardcore fans. The
simplistic design was gone, and normal gameplay replaced the famous
absurdities of the first version. The game simply failed because it
tried to “fix” the original problems that made it popular the
first time.
-
Jelly
Biz
Stone hit it big with Twitter, but his newest startup failed
miserably. Jelly, as it is known in the online world, was meant to be
a new mobile crowdsourced Q&A app. Similar to Quora and ChaCha,
Jelly tried to bring new features to its design and a fresh user
interface. Planned since at least April 2013, when Biz wrote a blog
post, Jelly failed to gain traction even during its first weeks, when
it was available as a beta. Initially, many tech journalists and tech
magazines considered Jelly as an ideal tool for the do-gooders that
are constantly on the go. The app had a social aspect as well, trying
to make people feel better about helping others with an answer, but
failed to connect with the sensitive side of many of its users.
Stone hit it big with Twitter, but his newest startup failed
miserably. Jelly, as it is known in the online world, was meant to be
a new mobile crowdsourced Q&A app. Similar to Quora and ChaCha,
Jelly tried to bring new features to its design and a fresh user
interface. Planned since at least April 2013, when Biz wrote a blog
post, Jelly failed to gain traction even during its first weeks, when
it was available as a beta. Initially, many tech journalists and tech
magazines considered Jelly as an ideal tool for the do-gooders that
are constantly on the go. The app had a social aspect as well, trying
to make people feel better about helping others with an answer, but
failed to connect with the sensitive side of many of its users.
Anyhow,
Biz Stone is known as an eager beaver entrepreneur, and there are
rumors suggesting that he is working on another project… possibly a
new giant like Twitter?
Biz Stone is known as an eager beaver entrepreneur, and there are
rumors suggesting that he is working on another project… possibly a
new giant like Twitter?
-
Clinkle
Clinkle
was designed as a revolutionary online payment app that could rival
the credit card and everyday cash. The idea was simple and catchy;
users simply had to install the app, feed it with funds and use it in
either a brick-and-mortar or online store. Clinkle was quickly
acclaimed for its user interface, graphic design, and marketing, but
was seen as merely an online debit card.
was designed as a revolutionary online payment app that could rival
the credit card and everyday cash. The idea was simple and catchy;
users simply had to install the app, feed it with funds and use it in
either a brick-and-mortar or online store. Clinkle was quickly
acclaimed for its user interface, graphic design, and marketing, but
was seen as merely an online debit card.
It’s
founder, Lucas Duplan, managed to raise the largest seed capital in
the Silicon Valley for this revolutionary payment processor (more
than $30 million), but failed to reach even a small fraction of what
it promised. People simply ignored it, while going for the already
established payment processors.
founder, Lucas Duplan, managed to raise the largest seed capital in
the Silicon Valley for this revolutionary payment processor (more
than $30 million), but failed to reach even a small fraction of what
it promised. People simply ignored it, while going for the already
established payment processors.
About
the author:
the author:
The
writer of this article, Flaviu Mircea, is a tech blogger who has been
following the emerging tech industry, and watching both its successes
and failures. To make sure your business doesn’t end up a failure, he
recommends using time management software from a site like
http://www.scoro.com.
You can learn more about Flaviu from Google+.
writer of this article, Flaviu Mircea, is a tech blogger who has been
following the emerging tech industry, and watching both its successes
and failures. To make sure your business doesn’t end up a failure, he
recommends using time management software from a site like
http://www.scoro.com.
You can learn more about Flaviu from Google+.