Failed 2023

    Vice Media

    Even the coolest media brand can't survive when digital ad revenue collapses and $1.7B in funding creates an unsustainable cost structure.

    Founded → Closed

    1994 → 2023

    Funding Raised

    $1.7B

    Industry

    Media

    Country

    USA

    IdeaProof AI Failure Score

    75/100
    Market Fit RiskBurn Rate RiskFounder Risk
    Market Fit Risk
    55
    Burn Rate Risk
    80
    Founder Risk
    45

    Full Analysis

    Vice Media was the rebellious media company that attracted a $5.7B valuation and investments from Disney. But digital media advertising economics deteriorated rapidly as Facebook and Google captured 80%+ of digital ad spending. Vice expanded into TV, film, news, and a cable channel — burning cash across too many verticals. Revenue fell from a projected $800M to under $600M. The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2023 and was sold to a consortium for $350M — a 94% loss from peak valuation.

    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 Vice Media.