The Cold, Hard Truth About Startup Shutdowns | Dori Yona

What really happens when a startup shuts down? In this revealing episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya sits down with Dori Yona, founder of SimpleClosure and seasoned entrepreneur, to unpack the complex—and often hidden—realities of shutting down a startup. After navigating the painful process of closing his own VC-backed company, Dori realized just how broken and opaque the process was, and became determined to fix it. Now, after guiding over 500 shutdowns in 2024 alone, he brings clarity to a topic most founders and investors would rather avoid. From legal minefields and IP entanglements to payroll risks and emotional tolls, Dori shares what every stakeholder needs to know about ending a startup the right way.Key Points From This Episode:

• How Dori’s own shutdown journey inspired the creation of SimpleClosure
• Hidden liabilities and risks founders and VCs often miss
• What happens to intellectual property, equity, and employee obligations
• Data from 2023–2024: which startups are shutting down, where, and why
• The surprising prevalence of founder-led shutdowns
• Visa challenges for international founders during closures
• How SimpleClosure streamlines the wind-down process
• The role of VCs in helping founders exit cleanly and move forward

Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is a must-listen for understanding the realities of startup shutdowns—and how to navigate them with integrity.