That number 42 again

“42% of startups fail due to the wrong product”

So screamed the headline.

The author simply doesn’t understand the difference between correlations and causations.

If a startup had the wrong product it’s because the founders didn’t have a clue and that is why they failed.

If you don’t understand this then think of traffic accidents. The authorities assign a cause to every accident – one of; speed, alcohol and drugs, or inattention.

I can assure you that you could put speed governors on every car, drug and alcohol meters that control the ignition and also readily available attention monitors, and you would still have plenty of accidents.

Why? Because some people are just shit drivers.

Same for startups; 42% of startups fail because the founders are shit at their job.

Some would be shit because they just are.

The rest are too stupid to realise that they should do an apprenticeship (or two) as an employee in a startup with an experienced founder before launching their own effort.