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// startup autopsy

Bird

$2.5B for scooters with a 28-day street lifespan.

unit economics
Founded2017
Closed2023
CountryUSA
SectorMobility
Raised$776M
FounderTravis VanderZanden

// the model, blind

Evaluating only Bird’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Unit economics as the #1 likely cause. That’s exactly how it died.

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Documented cause

Bird's electric scooters lasted an average of 28 days on city streets due to vandalism, weather, and theft. Hardware replacement costs made unit economics permanently unsolvable. After raising $776M, Bird filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2023 and was delisted from Nasdaq.

Lesson

“Hardware unit economics must survive the physical world, not just a spreadsheet. If your asset degrades faster than it earns, you are scaling losses, not a business.”

FAQ

Why did Bird fail?

Bird failed because its scooters lasted only 28 days on city streets. Vandalism, weather, and theft made hardware replacement costs too high. Bird filed for bankruptcy in December 2023 after raising $776M.

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