Failed 2016
Pebble
Pebble pioneered smartwatches via Kickstarter but couldn't survive Apple's entrance into the market.
Founded → Closed
2011 → 2016
Funding Raised
$43M
Industry
Consumer Electronics
Country
USA
IdeaProof AI Failure Score
55/100
Market Fit Risk
65
Burn Rate Risk
60
Founder Risk
15
Full Analysis
Pebble's Kickstarter campaign raised $10.3M in 2012 — then a record — proving demand for smartwatches. The company sold over 2 million units. But when Apple launched the Apple Watch in 2015, Pebble's limited resources couldn't compete. Fitbit acquired Pebble's IP for $23M in 2016 — a fraction of its potential.
Could This Failure Have Been Prevented?
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