Failure is a better teacher than success. These stories reveal hard-won lessons founders use to grow stronger.
1. Building Too Soon: A founder spent 6 months coding a product no one wanted. Lesson: Validate before you build.
2. Wrong Co-Founder: A friendship turned partnership turned disaster. Lesson: Align values before roles.
3. Marketing Without Messaging: $10K burned on ads without knowing their audience. Lesson: Nail your positioning first.
4. Scaling Too Early: Hired fast, ran out of cash faster. Lesson: Grow only when there’s demand.
5. Ignoring Mental Health: Burnout nearly killed the startup. Lesson: Founders must protect their energy first.
