Failed 2020
Essential Products
Even Android's creator couldn't compete in smartphones. Brand loyalty and ecosystem lock-in are nearly impossible to break.
Founded → Closed
2015 → 2020
Funding Raised
$330M
Industry
Consumer Electronics
Country
USA
IdeaProof AI Failure Score
58/100
Market Fit Risk
35
Burn Rate Risk
65
Founder Risk
45
Full Analysis
Essential was founded by Andy Rubin, the creator of Android. The Essential Phone sold fewer than 150,000 units in its first year. The smartphone market is a duopoly where even legendary founders can't gain traction.
Could This Failure Have Been Prevented?
IdeaProof's AI validates market demand, competitive positioning, and business model viability in minutes — catching the exact issues that sank Essential Products.