Evaluating only Quartzy’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Competition as the #1 likely cause. Documented cause: Acquisition gone wrong.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Adam Regelmann and Jayant Kulkarni launch Quartzy as a free lab supply management tool out of YC.
FUNDING
Raises $16M Series A; grows to 50,000 labs globally on freemium model.
ACQUISITION ATTEMPT
Acquired by Eppendorf AG for undisclosed sum; integration begins but cultural clashes slow product development.
SHUTDOWN
Eppendorf discontinues standalone Quartzy platform after failing to convert free users to paid subscriptions.
Full Analysis
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Documented cause
Quartzy, a free lab management and supply ordering platform backed by $16M in funding from Y Combinator and others, was acquired by Eppendorf AG in 2019. Post-acquisition integration struggles under new corporate ownership led to product stagnation. The platform's freemium model was never successfully converted to paid tiers. By 2022, Eppendorf discontinued standalone operations, absorbing or shutting down the product after failing to monetize the 150,000-user base.
Lesson
“Freemium science tools must demonstrate clear upgrade paths before acquisition or face post-deal shutdown.”
Failure anatomy
Collapse type
Acqui-hire
📉 MEDIUM
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