// startup autopsy
Diverst
Software cannot substitute for organizational culture change — customers learned this the hard way.
marketfitSilent Shutdown
Quiet closure with no public announcement
// the model, blind
Evaluating only Diverst’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Competition as the #1 likely cause. Documented cause: No market fit.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Diverst founded in Montreal to provide employee resource group management and DEI program tracking software for mid-market North American employers.
FUNDING
Raised CAD $3.8M and launched integrations with Workday and BambooHR; reached 200 customers including several Canadian banks and US healthcare systems.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Signups tripled in Q3 2020 following George Floyd protests; launched DEI goals-tracking dashboard and anti-racism pledge module to meet demand surge.
SHUTDOWN
Ceased operations in 2022 after Series A fundraising failed; high customer churn post-2021 as companies cancelled DEI software that failed to show measurable cultural outcomes.