wind_down.checklist
Shutting down? Sell the corpse before it decomposes
Most founders wind down by archiving the repo, cancelling the hosting, and letting the domain lapse. That's setting money on fire. Here's the short version of what to salvage and how to package it.
$ 01_inventory_what_you_own
Repo, datasets, trained models, design system, infra scripts, domain, brand, hardware files, mailing list. Confirm you hold the copyright on each before you list.
$ 02_freeze_the_stack
Tag a final release, write a one-page README on how to run it, and note the deploy story. A buyer who can boot it pays more than one who can't.
$ 03_write_the_eulogy
State what died, when, and why. Buyers price honestly-described failure far better than vague optimism.
$ 04_list_it_and_move_on
Free listing, flat price, a human classifies your vertical, and vetted buyers reach you under NDA. Then you're done.
Frequently asked
What should I do with the code when I shut down?
Don't archive it and forget it. Decide what you own, package the repo, datasets, models, and domain, and list them while the stack is still current. Value decays every month you wait.
Do I need to dissolve the company before selling assets?
No — an asset sale usually happens before or during wind-down, while the entity still exists to sign the agreement. Talk to your lawyer about ordering.
What's actually sellable from a dead startup?
Source code, trained models, scraped or labeled datasets, UI kits and design systems, infra-as-code, the domain name, brand assets, hardware/CAD files, and sometimes the customer or waitlist.
Is it embarrassing to list a failed startup?
Every listing here is a dead company and the cause of death is part of the pitch. Honesty is the format, not a liability.
How long does it take to sell?
Varies. Listing takes minutes, review is manual, and deals typically close in under a week once a buyer finishes diligence.
Ready to poke around the graveyard?
Browse the graveyard