Why Startups Fail - Virtual Event & Watch Party

Join 20Fathoms and Harvard Business School Professor and Author Tom Eisenmann for a virtual author presentation about his recent book Why Startups Fail.

Why Startups Fail explains the causes and consequences of entrepreneurial failure. It provides guidance on how to anticipate and avoid common failure patterns. And, if entrepreneurs do fail, the book explains how they can fail well — in ways that preserve relationships and integrity, and position them to bounce back stronger.

This virtual event includes a 45-minute presentation and 15 minutes for Q&A. Participants who provide an address during registration will receive a free copy of Why Startups Fail to read prior to the virtual presentation. Deadline to register to receive a book is August 1.

This event offers a unique opportunity to hear from and interact with a leading scholar, researcher, and practitioner of entrepreneurship.

There are two ways to attend this event:

• Entirely virtually; or
• We will livestream the event for anyone interested in joining us at 20Fathoms for snacks and community. Lunch provided!

What you will learn:

• How to anticipate and avoid six patterns that account for most startup failures.

• Whether and how to shut down a struggling startup.

• How failed founders can recover and learn from their experience.

This event is hosted in partnership with Jamie Kemler and Tom Eisenmann.

About the Presenter:

Tom Eisenmann is the Howard H. Stevenson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School (HBS); the Peter O. Crisp Faculty Chair of the Harvard Innovation Labs; and Faculty Co-Chair of the HBS Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, the Harvard MS/MBA-Engineering Sciences program, and the Harvard College Tech Fellows program. Since joining the HBS faculty in 1997, he’s served as Faculty Chair of the HBS Elective Curriculum—the 2nd year of the MBA program; led The Entrepreneurial Manager, an introductory course taught to all 1st-year MBAs; and, with colleagues, launched 14 electives on all aspects of entrepreneurship, including one on startup failure. Eisenmann is the author of the book Why Startups Fail (aka The Fail-Safe Startup in Commonwealth countries). His 100+ HBS case studies have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. Eisenmann’s writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes.

Eisenmann holds BA, MBA, and Doctorate in Business Administration degrees from Harvard University. Before pursuing his doctorate, he was co-head of McKinsey & Company’s Media & Entertainment practice.

About 20Fathoms:

Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/