# The 10 Most Notable Tech Failures and Flops of the Past Decade – Tech Startups
The tech industry is known for its rapid innovation, disruptive ideas, and the potential for massive success. However, for every unicorn startup that achieves global recognition, there are countless others that fail to live up to expectations. Over the past decade, several tech startups have made headlines not for their success, but for their spectacular failures. Whether due to poor business models, mismanagement, or simply bad timing, these companies serve as cautionary tales for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Here are the 10 most notable tech failures and flops of the past decade.
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### 1. **Theranos (2003–2018)**
**Industry:** Health Tech
**Founder:** Elizabeth Holmes
**What Went Wrong:**
Theranos was once hailed as a revolutionary health tech company that promised to change the way blood tests were conducted. The company claimed its technology could run hundreds of tests using just a few drops of blood. However, it was later revealed that the technology didn’t work as advertised, and the company had misled investors, regulators, and the public. In 2018, the company was dissolved, and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, faced criminal charges for fraud. The Theranos scandal became a symbol of Silicon Valley’s “fake it till you make it” culture gone wrong.
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### 2. **Juicero (2013–2017)**
**Industry:** Food Tech
**Founder:** Doug Evans
**What Went Wrong:**
Juicero was a startup that sold a $400 Wi-Fi-connected juicer, which used proprietary juice packs to make fresh juice. The company raised over $120 million in funding from prominent investors. However, the product became a laughingstock when it was discovered that the juice packs could be squeezed by hand, rendering the expensive machine unnecessary. Juicero shut down in 2017 after failing to find a buyer and facing widespread ridicule.
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### 3. **Quibi (2020–2020)**
**Industry:** Streaming Media
**Founders:** Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman
**What Went Wrong:**
Quibi was a short-form video streaming platform designed for mobile devices, with episodes lasting 10 minutes or less. Despite raising nearly $2 billion in funding and attracting big-name talent, Quibi failed to gain traction. The platform launched in April 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing people to stay home, but its mobile-first approach clashed with the reality that people were watching content on larger screens. Quibi shut down just six months after its launch, marking one of the most high-profile tech flops in recent memory.
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### 4. **Jawbone (1999–2017)**
**Industry:** Wearable Tech
**Founders:** Alexander Asseily and Hosain Rahman
**What Went Wrong:**
Jawbone was once a pioneer in the wearable tech space, producing Bluetooth headsets, speakers, and fitness trackers. However, the company struggled to compete with rivals like Fitbit and Apple. Jawbone faced numerous product issues, including faulty fitness trackers, and was embroiled in legal battles with Fitbit over intellectual property. After years of financial struggles, Jawbone liquidated in 2017, marking the end of a once-promising tech company.
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### 5. **Zirtual (2011–2015)**
**Industry:** Virtual Assistant Services
**Founder:** Maren Kate Donovan
**What Went Wrong:**
Zirtual was a startup that provided virtual assistant services to busy professionals. The company grew rapidly, but its business model was unsustainable. In 2015, Zirtual abruptly shut down, laying off 400 employees overnight and leaving customers in the lurch. The company’s sudden collapse was attributed to poor financial management and a lack of transparency. Zirtual was later acquired by Startups.co, but its initial failure remains a cautionary tale for startups that scale too quickly without a solid financial foundation.
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### 6. **Powa Technologies (2007–2016)**
**Industry:** Mobile Payments
**Founder:** Dan Wagner
**What Went Wrong:**
Powa Technologies was a UK-based mobile payments company that raised over $200 million in funding and was once valued at $2.7 billion. The company’s flagship product, PowaTag, allowed users to make purchases by scanning QR codes. However, the product failed to gain traction, and the company was plagued by internal mismanagement and technical issues. Powa Technologies collapsed in 2016, leaving behind a trail of disappointed investors and employees.
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### 7. **Beepi (2013–2017)**
**Industry:** Online Car Marketplace
**Founders:** Owen Savir and Ale Resnik
**What Went Wrong:**
Beepi was an online marketplace for buying and selling