GoKawiilSimeon Simeonov and Itamar Novick launch Startup Anti-Patterns series
Investors Simeon Simeonov and Itamar Novick of Recursive Ventures are publishing a series cataloging recurring behaviors that increase startup failure risk, building on Simeonov's original 2013 concept. The series will draw on their combined experience backing over 100 startups, plus contributions from portfolio founders, to illustrate each anti-pattern with real examples.
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Founders often chase success formulas that don't generalize, but failure patterns tend to repeat across companies, making them more useful to study and avoid. A structured catalog of these pitfalls gives entrepreneurs a practical checklist for spotting risky habits before they compound into existential problems.
- The series builds on Simeonov's 2013 concept of startup anti-patterns
- Novick and Simeonov draw on experience from 100+ portfolio startups
- Failure patterns are framed as more instructive than success stories
The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries — If you're digging into the patterns that make startups fail, Eric Ries's classic is the natural companion read — it's built around avoiding wasted effort and validating ideas before betting the company on them. It pairs perfectly with an anti-pattern series aimed at helping founders spot risky habits early.
See The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: itamarnovick.com — Itamar Novick, 2026-08-30
Published there as: “Startup Anti-Patterns”
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