$20M Valuation to Zero: A Startup Failure Story | Robert Huynh, Nook

from Founders in Motion with Thea Ngo · host Thea Ngo

Robert Huynh built Nook, a blue-collar job marketplace in Vietnam, through Y Combinator. He hit 50,000 users, raised at a $20M valuation, then watched it all crumble. This is his brutally honest post-mortem.In this raw conversation, Robert reveals:The growth hack that got 50K users FASTWhy a $20M valuation couldn't fix broken unit economicsThe cultural blindspots that killed the businessHow to tell your team you're shutting downHis mental health struggles during the crisisWhy co-founder selection makes or breaks everythingHis comeback story with Reforged LabsThis isn't another success story. It's the unfiltered truth about startup failure, the hidden costs of building in unfamiliar markets, and what it really takes to bounce back.Perfect for entrepreneurs, startup employees, or anyone curious about what happens when the Silicon Valley dream meets harsh reality.Guest: Robert Huynh - Harvard MBA, 2x Y Combinator alum, Co-Founder of Nook (acquired users but failed) and Reforged Labs (AI marketing agents)

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This episode was published on May 29, 2025.

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