--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the top causes of startup death…" description: "\"One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.\" — Kathryn Minshew" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png" --- # One of the top causes of startup death - right after… ![“One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.” quote by Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png) > “One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.” [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Startups fail when they create products lacking market demand, after team issues. **In simple terms:** Building unwanted products kills startups. Key Takeaway Validate demand before building. Themes startup failure market fit product development Mood cautious pragmatic Type advisory informative When to use this quote - pitch meetings - product design - market research - investor discussions Key Concepts customer discovery lean methodology founder dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you test demand early? - What signs show a product is unwanted? A Different Perspective Even with demand, execution can still fail. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup/) ## Related quotes > [It's better to have no cofounder than to have a bad cofounder, but it's still bad to be a solo founder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/it-s-better-to-have-no-cofounder-than-to-have-a-bad-cofounder-but-it/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [If you have a cofounder, one of the benefits is you'll get from point A to point B two times faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/if-you-have-a-cofounder-one-of-the-benefits-is-you-ll-get-from-point/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [In YC's case, the number one cause of early death for startups is cofounder blowups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-yc-s-case-the-number-one-cause-of-early-death-for-startups-is/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [If you're not in college and you don't know a cofounder, the next best thing I think is to go work at an interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-re-not-in-college-and-you-don-t-know-a-cofounder-the-next-best/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Cofounder relationships are among the most important in the entire company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/cofounder-relationships-are-among-the-most-important-in-the-entire/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [I'm half of the band Pomplamoose and cofounder & CEO at Patreon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-m-half-of-the-band-pomplamoose-and-cofounder-ceo-at-patreon/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I'm the cofounder of Keep a Child Alive. 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I was an English major and didn't know any computer programmers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-livingston/finding-a-technical-cofounder-would-have-been-difficult-for-me-i-was/) [Jessica Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-livingston/) > [ “Phil Libin, the cofounder of Evernote, has a quote I like to share with clients: “People \[who are\] thinking about things other than making… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/phil-libin-the-cofounder-of-evernote-has-a-quote-i-like-to-share-with/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [As far as funding and building a team, you being romantically involved with your cofounder really shouldn't play a factor in how you run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/as-far-as-funding-and-building-a-team-you-being-romantically-involved/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful-you-want-a-tough-and-a-calm/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Stalking is an underrated startup strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/stalking-is-an-underrated-startup-strategy/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [“So Mack got kind of a late start in the startup world—he founded TakeOff at the ripe old age of twenty-five”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doree-shafrir/so-mack-got-kind-of-a-late-start-in-the-startup-world-he-founded/) [Doree Shafrir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doree-shafrir/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kathryn Minshew > [People actually aren't moving on from companies much more quickly than in the past, but there's a perception that they do, so companies are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/people-actually-aren-t-moving-on-from-companies-much-more-quickly/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [There were so many lessons I learned the hard way: missing out on a raise because I didn't know to ask, having colleagues consistently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/there-were-so-many-lessons-i-learned-the-hard-way-missing-out-on-a/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [Slouching or leaning back may send the wrong signals. When you sit down for a formal interview, lean forward to show interest and active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/slouching-or-leaning-back-may-send-the-wrong-signals-when-you-sit/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [When I was still a bright-eyed McKinsey consultant, I remember hitting a point where I didn't know what to do next, and someone gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/when-i-was-still-a-bright-eyed-mckinsey-consultant-i-remember-hitting/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [With clearly defined roles and a focus on communication, it's much easier to make your company come across as well-organized and on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/with-clearly-defined-roles-and-a-focus-on-communication-it-s-much/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [It's not just hours and pay that are important anymore. 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They're undoubtedly all important things you consider when filtering through applicants in order to make a new hire.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/previous-experience-key-skills-and-education-they-re-undoubtedly-all/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [Millennials tend to appreciate regular feedback because they want to feel that their work matters and that they are making a difference in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/millennials-tend-to-appreciate-regular-feedback-because-they-want-to/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [Call it nature or nurture, there are differences in how men and women approach professional conduct, and facing these issues head-on will make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/call-it-nature-or-nurture-there-are-differences-in-how-men-and-women/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [For many people, the hardest thing about job-seeking is figuring out where to start. All through college, I heard my friends asking themselves, 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/for-many-people-the-hardest-thing-about-job-seeking-is-figuring-out/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) [Explore all 87 Kathryn Minshew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. 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It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. 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I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kathryn Minshew" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-right-after-cofounder-problems/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Building" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-right-after-cofounder-problems/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/kathryn-minshew-7826_building_one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-r_987277.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.” — Kathryn Minshew", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kathryn Minshew", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the top causes of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-right-after-cofounder-problems/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-right-after-cofounder-problems/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```