Zombie Startup
Also called Zombiecorn
A company that survives but does not meaningfully grow, alive enough to keep going, not successful enough to thrive or raise more. Sometimes called the living dead.
Why it matters
Zombie status is a hard, common place to be: not failing, but not winning, and consuming years of a founder's life. Recognizing it honestly, then deciding to fix, sell, or shut down, beats drifting in limbo indefinitely.
For example
A company survives on flat revenue for years, not failing but not growing enough to raise more, a zombie its founders eventually decide to sell or shut.
Related terms
Also in Starting Up
See how founders actually handle this on Founder life, part of the Starting Up hub.
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