Connect with us

Technology

Wilbur Labs 2026 Startup Failure Report Reveals AI Is the Top Threat for Half of Startup Founders

Published

on

MIAMI, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Wilbur Labs released their 2026 Report on Startup Failure, showing half of founders (50%) identified technological disruption, including AI, as the top threat to their company. Additionally, 59% of founders said they are concerned about their business surviving the next 12 months.

Click here for more information: https://www.wilburlabs.com/blueprints/why-startups-fail

Startup success stories often dominate headlines, but the reality of entrepreneurship is far less predictable. 81% of founders said their company pivoted from its original idea at least once, while 42% said they wish they had pivoted sooner.

“Startups rarely fail because founders lack ambition or intelligence,” said Phil Santoro, Co-Founder of Wilbur Labs. “More often, early assumptions about the market or product turn out to be wrong. The founders who succeed recognize those signals early and adapt.”

Product-market fit remains the biggest challenge
More than half of founders (54%) said their most important lesson from failure was the need to better understand product-market fit. Additionally, 44% cited product or technology issues as the primary cause of failure, and 25% cited running out of money (down from 38% in 2023).

“Even with AI making it easier to iterate than ever, product-market fit is still the foundation of every successful company,” said David Kolodny, Co-Founder of Wilbur Labs. “When founders get that right, a lot of other problems become manageable. When they don’t, challenges like competition, product issues, and capital constraints inevitably follow.”

The human cost of entrepreneurship
Beyond strategy, founders report significant personal strain. Nearly 9 in 10 (90%) said they experienced stress or burnout severe enough to make them consider quitting, while 87% said building a company was lonelier than expected.

Despite these challenges, resilience remains strong. More than 4 in 5 (81%) founders who experienced failure said they would start another company, with 31% motivated to do so immediately.

“Failure is rarely the end of the story. For most entrepreneurs, it’s actually the beginning of the next chapter,” Kolodny said.

Methodology
This study was designed and conducted by Wilbur Labs as part of ongoing research into startup failure and founder experiences. Wilbur Labs engaged Wakefield Research to assist with survey administration. The survey was made up of 200 U.S. tech founders between February 3-12, 2026, via email and online questionnaire. The margin of error is ±6.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

About Wilbur Labs
Wilbur Labs is a startup studio that turns bold ideas into market-leading companies. The studio identifies unsolved customer problems, researches solutions, and builds or invests in companies to solve them. Visit www.wilburlabs.com for more information.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wilbur-labs-2026-startup-failure-report-reveals-ai-is-the-top-threat-for-half-of-startup-founders-302755951.html

SOURCE Wilbur Labs

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

The SBB Research Group Foundation Sponsors Women United of Lake County

Published

on

By

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Women United of Lake County collaborated in a volunteer initiative alongside the SBB Research Group Foundation, which partners with local nonprofits through its Champion A Charity Program.

Volunteers gathered to assemble 60 early learning and nutrition kits for families with children under five years old. The dual-purpose kits combined shelf-stable food items with early learning activities and were prepared for Family First Center of Lake County, which provides early learning programs within the PADS shelter at a hotel in Mundelein, Illinois.

Volunteers worked together to organize and package supplies in preparation for the event. “I’m always amazed by the way our team members come together throughout the year to make these projects a success,” said Sonia Munoz, a volunteer with the SBBRG Foundation. “It is truly inspiring to see everyone’s willingness to pitch in, help one another, and make a meaningful difference in our community.”

The completed kits will provide children and families with engaging educational activities along with nutritious, shelf-stable food to support both learning and well-being. Program funding will also assist Women United of Lake County’s HUGS program, which brings members together to provide hands-on help for local schools, projects, and community initiatives, including the Early Learning Club and its young learners.

To learn more about Women United of Lake County and its work in the community, please visit Women United of Lake County.

About the SBB Research Group Foundation 

The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. 

Contact: Erin Noonan 
Organization: SBB Research Group Foundation
Email: grants@sbbrg.org
Address: 450 Skokie Blvd, Building 600, Northbrook, IL 60062 United States 
Phone: 1-847-656-1111
Website: https://www.sbbrg.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-sbb-research-group-foundation-sponsors-women-united-of-lake-county-302859962.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Antaisolar Joins United Nations Global Compact and Releases 2025 ESG Report

Published

on

By

XIAMEN, China, Aug. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Antaisolar, a leading expert in digital and intelligent PV mounting system solutions, announced its official participation in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the release of its 2025 ESG Report, marking two key milestones in the company’s ongoing sustainability efforts.

As a UNGC participant, Antaisolar will incorporate the UNGC Ten Principles into its RAISE sustainability strategy, which is structured around five pillars: Sound Governance, Premium Products, Equity & Inclusion, Ecological Co-existence and Shared Prosperity. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the strategy focuses on supply-chain compliance, carbon data management and core competency stewardship, integrating sustainability considerations into business operations and value-chain management.

The 2025 ESG Report details Antaisolar’s performance across environmental, social and governance priorities. According to the report, green power accounted for 15.54% of Antaisolar’s energy consumption, while its self-built solar power plant generated 4,641,057 kWh of electricity annually. The report also highlights continued improvements in energy and emissions management, occupational health and safety, employee development, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, business ethics, risk management and information security, reflecting a more systematic approach to ESG management across the organization. It also links responsible product development and quality management with the company’s broader sustainability objectives, extending ESG considerations from internal operations to the wider industrial value chain. Key ESG data and practices disclosed in the report were independently assured by TÜV SÜD, enhancing the transparency, credibility and reliability of the disclosures.

Antaisolar also unveiled its 2026–2027 action plans for EcoRaise, its global ecological co-building initiative, covering four areas: environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, green energy development and sustainable lifestyles. In 2026, the company partnered with the Xiang’an Animal Protection Association to support the conservation of six national protected bird species through a dedicated donation, expanding its biodiversity efforts from plant conservation to wildlife protection.

Looking ahead, Antaisolar will continue to align its sustainability practices with the UNGC Ten Principles, advance the implementation of its RAISE strategy, and work with global partners to support the global transition toward green energy.

SOURCE Antaisolar

Continue Reading

Technology

Growhill Wealth Launches AI Workforce to Power Independent Advisors Across Asia

Published

on

By

The rebranded Hong Kong platform, formerly GROW Digital Wealth, rolls out an AI-powered workforce across its network of 200 advisors as it accelerates expansion in the world’s leading wealth hub 

HONG KONG, Aug. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Growhill Wealth, an AI-native and licensed wealth platform, today announced the launch of its agentic AI workforce designed for independent financial advisors (IFAs) across Asia, capturing a tech-driven transformation as AI boosts advisor productivity and reshapes wealth management economics globally.

Built to introduce an AI workforce into daily practice with total human oversight, this infrastructure update marks Growhill Wealth’s rebranding from GROW Digital Wealth, maintaining full continuity across platform operations and leadership. The company previously received investments from Julius Baer-backed GROW Investment Group and Animoca Brands. 

Growhill Wealth, distinguishing itself through robust IFA enablement, is accelerating its expansion in Hong Kong’s US$2.9 trillion* wealth market. As the city surpasses Switzerland as the world’s top wealth hub, the firm will open a new location at One Peking Road this year, followed by a Central office in the first quarter of 2027.

“Asia’s wealth expansion marks a structural shift for independent advisory. By equipping every advisor with secure agentic AI at a fraction of traditional platform costs, Growhill Wealth frees professionals to focus on high-touch advice and client relationships—delivering a caliber of service on par with major private banks,” said Alan Lau, Executive Chairman of Growhill Wealth.

“Hong Kong serves as the ideal launchpad to bring agentic AI to global wealth management,” Lau added.

Growhill Wealth offers advisors an open, institutional-grade multi-asset product shelf, and agentic AI support across core advisory workflows, elevating independent advisory to private-bank standards under strict human supervision. Regulated services across the platform are delivered by Growhill Wealth and its group affiliates under Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission Type 1, 4, and 9 licenses, as well as an Abu Dhabi Global Market Category 3C license.

The platform, which has reached 200 advisors and US$800 million in assets under management and advice, is positioned for its next phase by empowering Asia’s wealth professionals with secure, compliant, and efficient agentic AI capabilities. Growhill Wealth’s human advisors are supported by an always-on AI workforce that monitors client portfolios around the clock and flags what needs attention, prepares research and portfolio reviews, drafts client proposals and updates, and handles routine operations and paperwork.

William Ma, Chief Investment Officer of Growhill Wealth, said, “The future of wealth management will be won on technology, operations and service. Growhill Wealth is built to give independent advisors that infrastructure on an open, AI-native platform, so they can serve clients efficiently and to a higher standard. This is the direction we are committed to leading in Asia.”

As part of this step, the group is bringing its licensed businesses together under the Growhill Wealth brand, a process being completed in line with the relevant regulatory approvals.

About Growhill Wealth

Growhill Wealth, formerly GROW Digital Wealth, is an AI-native wealth management platform built for independent financial advisors (IFAs) across Asia. The company previously received investments from Julius Baer-backed GROW Investment Group and Animoca Brands. Operating an open-architecture model, the platform pairs an institutional-grade, multi-asset product shelf with secure agentic AI capabilities, enabling advisors to deliver private-bank-caliber service with full human oversight. Growhill Wealth supports a network of 200 advisors managing US$800 million in assets under management and advice. Regulated financial services across the platform are delivered by Growhill Wealth and its group affiliates under Hong Kong SFC Type 1, 4, and 9 licenses, alongside an ADGM Category 3C license. The platform and its affiliates were recognized as Best Wealth Manager, Digital Innovation at the Asian Private Banker China Wealth Awards 2025.

Notes to journalist and editors: *As of end-2025, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/growhill-wealth-launches-ai-workforce-to-power-independent-advisors-across-asia-302859499.html

SOURCE Growhill Wealth

Continue Reading

Trending