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Why do startups fail? | Tom Eisenmann, Harvard University

Episode Summary

Why 90% of all startups fail? This week, Harvard Professor Tom Eisenmann joins Mimi Nguyen to discuss his new book - The Fail-Safe Startup. Focusing his research and his MBA class at Harvard University on the mistakes and missteps of entrepreneurs, for the first time, he reveals his findings, and - most importantly - how you can avoid them. During their conversation, Tom tells Mimi about the potential failing patterns of early - and late-stage startups, debunking common Silicon Valley / Elon Musk / Rupert Murdoch’s mythologies. Plus, they delve into the changes over the last two decades in the MBA programme at Harvard Business School and discuss the future of innovation leaders training. Follow Mana Search on Twitter: https://twitter.com/manasearchuk Follow Mana Search on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana-talent/ Buy Tom’s book, The Fail-Safe Startup: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fail-Safe-Startup-Tom-Eisenmann/dp/0241420172 Episode Highlights: 02:09: The concept of “betting the company” and Rupert Murdoch’s empires 05:08: What spurred Tom to study entrepreneurship failures? 10:29: The failure patterns in early-stage startups 21:00: Why the right resources are key and why we need to hire for attitude? 24:00: The failure patterns in late-stage startups 23:37: Ethics and MBAs 46:15: Combining MBA, engineering and design

Episode Notes

Why 90% of all startups fail? This week, Harvard Professor Tom Eisenmann joins Mimi Nguyen to discuss his new book - The Fail-Safe Startup.

Focusing his research and his MBA class at Harvard University on the mistakes and missteps of entrepreneurs, for the first time, he reveals his findings, and - most importantly - how you can avoid them.

During their conversation, Tom tells Mimi about the potential failing patterns of early - and late-stage startups, debunking common Silicon Valley / Elon Musk / Rupert Murdoch’s mythologies. Plus, they delve into the changes over the last two decades in the MBA programme at Harvard Business School and discuss the future of innovation leaders training.

Follow Mana Search on Twitter

Follow Mana Search on LinkedIn

Buy Tom’s book, The Fail-Safe Startup

 

Episode Highlights:

02:09: The concept of “betting the company” and Rupert Murdoch’s empires

05:08: What spurred Tom to study entrepreneurship failures?

10:29: The failure patterns in early-stage startups

21:00: Why the right resources are key and why we need to hire for attitude?

24:00: The failure patterns in late-stage startups

23:37: Ethics and MBAs

46:15: Combining MBA, engineering and design