What Kills Startups (Every Time)

Success is overhyped. Failure is patterned—and preventable. Everyone teaches how to win. Almost no one studies how startups actually die. And they don’t die randomly. Most failures follow the same patterns—long before the market, product, or team gets blamed. This session breaks down what actually kills startups—and how to avoid it. Hear from Albert Lin, Managing Partner, and a US venture capital GP, sharing lessons from the trenches on what separates companies that survive from those that don’t. 🎯 What you’ll walk away with The most common (and preventable) startup failure patterns How capital structure quietly determines outcomes Where governance breaks—and how to fix it early What experienced investors look for beyond upside If you’re building or investing in a startup, this is the part no one teaches—and the part that matters most when things go wrong. Toronto Tech Week is a citywide celebration of the people building what’s next. From May 26–29, 2026, founders, investors, and builders come together for hundreds of community-led events across Toronto, connecting tens of thousands of people around Canadian tech. Torontotechweek.com