Since signing on as the inaugural chair of Startup Victoria I’ve been thinking more about Melbourne startup culture.

Here’s a crazy idea. Why don’t we hold wakes to mark the passing of failed startups?

The failed startup can bring along their dead schwag.

Attendees might like to shout the founders (investors?) drinks for the evening.

Volunteer

To help make this happen:

• keep an ear to the ground for when a startup bites the dust

• contact the founders and ask them if they’re up for a party.

If you’d like help organising the party, contact Startup Victoria.

Motivations

In the real world, wakes are:

an attempt to heal the wound of death and to do final justice to the deceased while he was still physically present. After the burial, the opportunity to do so would be absent

For the community: failure is a great teacher. Learning about the road that others have trod may help inform your choices.

Themes

wake

a watch or vigil by the body of a dead person before burial, sometimes accompanied by feasting or merrymaking.

wake

to rouse from lethargy, apathy, ignorance, etc.