// startup autopsy
Ship & Duck
A UK marketplace that never found its waves
marketfitSilent Shutdown
Quiet closure with no public announcement · Fatal mistake: Entered a competitive UK marketplace without sufficient funding to build liquidity on both supply and demand sides simultaneously.
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2016 |
| Country | UK |
| Sector | Marketplace |
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Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Ship & Duck founded in the UK as an online marketplace targeting British consumers.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Platform launched publicly, enabling buyers and sellers to transact on the marketplace.
FUNDING
Raised final funding round totaling approximately $410K; failed to attract further investment afterward.
LAYOFF
Reduced team size as revenue failed to materialize and runway shortened significantly post-final funding.
SHUTDOWN
Ship & Duck silently shut down operations, unable to sustain marketplace growth without additional capital.