The Real Reason Why Startups Fail Now One of the eternal questions in entrepreneurship is why do so many startups still fail. Is it a bad idea, poor execution or are many just not cut out to be their own boss? On The Small Business Radio Show this week, Tom Eisenmann, a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School discusses the real reasons in his new book, “Why Startups Fail”. He has interviewed over 470 entrepreneurs and has case studies including an ice cream maker, a concierge dog-walking service, and a sophisticated social robot. Interview with Tom Eisenmann Tom believes that too many experts focus on examples of success rather than failure. He explains that we can learn more from the many companies that have failed rather than mocking them. Tom says that knowing what these patterns are can save startups in the future.