Get the latest tech news
Why email startups fail
Comprehensive analysis of email startup failures. Why 80%+ of email companies fail, burn millions in VC funding, and shut down. Learn what actually works.
2017: Founded, built initial email forwarding with 634 lines of JavaScript 2018: Integrated with Cloudflare for privacy-first DNS 2019: Major performance rewrite using Node.js streams 2020: Released Spam Scanner (open-source anti-spam), 2FA, API 2021: Removed all Python dependencies, 100% JavaScript/Node.js stack 2023: Switched to bare metal servers, implemented DNS over HTTPS 2023: Launched outbound SMTP with built-in deliverability safeguards 2023: Added encrypted mailbox storage with IMAP support 2024: Added CalDAV, iOS Push support, time-to-inbox monitoring 2025: Switched to DataPacket bare metal infrastructure PostX → IronPort → Cisco (2006-2007)2ergo → SoundBite → Genesys (2012-2013)Newoldstamp → BlackPearl Group (2022) The Consolidation Pattern: Email infrastructure companies get acquired not for their innovation, but for their user base and technology to be absorbed into larger platforms. Acquire promising email service for billions Neglect infrastructure and development Merge into existing platform (badly) Break functionality that previously worked Blame users for "configuration issues"
Or read this on Hacker News
