Research
YC Graveyard vs Bootstrapped Survivors
These companies raised $719M+ combined and all failed. Their bootstrapped competitors are still growing.
Online Calendars
Kiko
Online calendar tool from YC's very first batch
Sold on eBay for $258K in 2006
Calendly
Scheduling automation platform
Bootstrapped for 8 years
$3B valuation, $250M+ annual revenue
Startup Data
Mattermark
Startup data and analytics platform
Sold for under $1M in 2017
Crunchbase
Startup and company data platform
Spun out from TechCrunch, lean growth
Dominant startup data platform, thriving
Home Cleaning
Homejoy
On-demand home cleaning marketplace
Shut down July 2015
Local cleaning businesses
Traditional cleaning companies with online booking
Self-funded, profitable from day one
Continued operating profitably
Legal Tech
Atrium
Legal services for startups, founded by Justin Kan
Shut down March 2020
Clio
Legal practice management platform
Bootstrapped early stages
$1B+ valuation, dominant legal tech platform
Tutoring Marketplace
Tutorspree
Online tutoring marketplace
Shut down 2013
Wyzant
Tutoring marketplace connecting students with tutors
Bootstrapped
$100M+ gross sales, acquired Tutorspree's assets
Enterprise Drones
Airware
Enterprise drone operating system and analytics
Shut down September 2018. a16z, GV, and Kleiner lost everything.
DJI
Consumer and enterprise drone manufacturer
Bootstrapped from $3K in a college dorm room
70% global drone market share, $15B+ valuation
Microbiome Testing
uBiome
Microbiome sequencing and testing startup
FBI raided offices, founders indicted for fraud
Standard diagnostic labs
Established clinical diagnostic laboratories
Profitable operations
Continued operating normally while uBiome collapsed
Design Tools
InVision
Design collaboration and prototyping platform
Valued at $2B, shut down end of 2024
Figma
Collaborative interface design tool
Raised $333M but executed decisively
IPO'd July 2025, category winner