Perceived doom.

In reality there's a slight uptick in closures, but it's mostly business as usual. Incredibly stupid ideas are still getting funded by the hour.

I think you mean "more than usual". I feel like it's more that the media is reporting on failing startups at a higher rate this year since the deflation of the startup bubble is a popular topic.

I think there's probably an uptick in closures, and the doomwatch media is pointing their attention at them, but I think a big part of it is that there have been so many, uh, "thinly-premised" companies that for whatever reason didn't fold over the past few-to-several years. That is, I think a lot of closures will be able to be boiled down to "what took so long?"

It's unlikely that the business climate has changed much for startups. I doubt the success/failure rates are identical to what they were one, five, or ten years ago.

What has changed is media coverage, skepticism, and average skill level of "users" and maybe the frequency with which things happen.

Could also be the lack of launches in the years before. Good luck finding a used 2009 car of any model, good luck finding a startup founded in 2002.

Simply Hired's founder self-funded, FYI, I don't think there was ever any VC money involved.

At least when I worked for them circa 2010 that was the case.

Hope all the smart folks I worked with there land safely.