// startup autopsy

Smarterphone

Built a platform for a partner that was already sinking

platform dependencyAcqui-hire

Fatal mistake: Tied the entire product strategy to Nokia's ecosystem just as Nokia entered terminal decline against Android and iOS.

Founded	2008
Closed	2012
Country	Norway
Sector	Hardware

50%

Key Events Timeline

2008-01-01

FOUNDING

Smarterphone founded in Norway to build a smartphone OS for feature phones targeting emerging markets.

2011-06-01

FUNDING

Raised $5M in funding with Nokia as a key strategic backer, deepening platform dependency.

2011-10-01

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Launched its smartphone OS platform targeting Nokia's low-end device lineup for emerging markets.

2012-01-01

ACQUISITION ATTEMPT

Nokia moved to fully acquire Smarterphone as part of its struggling strategy to compete in emerging markets.

2012-06-01

SHUTDOWN

Absorbed into Nokia and effectively shut down as Nokia's own platform strategy collapsed under Android/iOS dominance.

Full Analysis

Analyst plan

Documented cause

Smarterphone, an Oslo-based startup that developed a smartphone OS for feature phones targeting emerging markets, was acquired by Nokia. While the acquisition itself occurred, it represented a failure of the in...

dependent company's mission. Nokia, Smarterphone's key strategic partner and acquirer, was itself in severe decline, facing existential pressure from iPhone and Android dominance in the smartphone mar

Verified lesson

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€9M

Peak valuation

HypeCycle · MoatType · ResearchTags

Smarterphone raised €5M before tied the entire product strategy to nokia's ecosystem just as nokia entered terminal decline against android and ios. ended it. See the documented cause, verified lesson and all failure signals.

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