When do you know your startup has failed?

Question

if you've had a failed startup, how did you know?Did you run out of cash and call it to quit?No product-market fit?If you succeeded, did you have a patch so rough that you were evicted?Also, if you need any help with a project, a startup, or an idea, just post it here.

arnon · Accepted Answer

If after 5 years you still need to spend millions of dollars to acquire a single customer - you have failed to reach product market fit.If your customers aren't talking about you positively to others in the industry (even when asked to) - you have failed to solve a real problem for them.

When do you know your startup has failed?

if you've had a failed startup, how did you know?
Did you run out of cash and call it to quit?
No product-market fit?
If you succeeded, did you have a patch so rough that you were evicted?
Also, if you need any help with a project, a startup, or an idea, just post it here.

If after 5 years you still need to spend millions of dollars to acquire a single customer - you have failed to reach product market fit.
If your customers aren't talking about you positively to others in the industry (even when asked to) - you have failed to solve a real problem for them.