The startup trap that kept this longevity app founder stuck
Death Clock CEO Brent Franson says the most dangerous startups can be the ones that seem "pretty good."
Brent Franson, CEO of Death Clock, warns startups about getting stuck in a phase he calls "slow failure." He explains that when a startup isn't viable, founders should fully pivot instead of trying to patch it. Franson spent four years building the mental-health app Most Days, which initially seemed promising but ultimately didn't work as a business.
Users liked the app, but the company couldn't acquire them cheaply enough to build a sustainable business. Franson saw the dangers of "slow failure" - a business that lingers because its leaders keep rationalizing why it might soon work. The solution, he suggests, is to make a clean break and fully pivot to a new idea. Franson describes Death Clock as an "AI private doctor" that estimates users' lifespans based on health data.
The app is designed to suggest changes that could help users live longer. Franson learned three lessons from Most Days: an app people like isn't necessarily a viable business; pivots should be clean breaks, not half-measures; and a good product needs a way to reach customers without heavy marketing spend.
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