Fab.com launched as a daily flash-sale site for stylish, affordable home goods. It went viral in 2011, raised hundreds of millions, and hit unicorn status. But the company scaled way too fast — ballooning to 700+ employees, expanding globally, and acquiring startups without a clear plan. Logistics faltered. Customers complained. The novelty wore off, and margins were thin. When sales stalled, Fab laid off two-thirds of its team and shut down its EU ops. In 2014, it was sold for a fraction of its peak valuation. A shining example of beautiful branding… with no business behind it.

Pitch: “Daily design deals, beautifully curated.”