// startup autopsy
Pageflakes
A promising start-page swallowed by a toxic acquisition
acquisition gone wrongAcqui-hire
Fatal mistake: Sold to LiveUniverse, an acquirer that lacked the competence and intent to maintain the platform, effectively killing a product with millions of active users.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Pageflakes launches as a customizable web start-page aggregator, competing in the fast-growing Web 2.0 personalization space.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Platform reaches 1 million users, raising its profile against competitors Netvibes and Google's iGoogle.
FUNDING
Pageflakes raises $4.1M in funding to accelerate growth and compete with well-funded rivals.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Pageflakes is acquired by LiveUniverse; founder later alleges the acquirer deliberately neglected and sabotaged the platform.
SHUTDOWN
Pageflakes shuts down under LiveUniverse management, ending the service for its millions of users.