// startup autopsy
Tink Labs
Supplied free smartphones to hotel guests to eliminate roaming charges and drive hotel service discovery.
marketfitSudden Collapse
Unexpected shutdown within weeks of a trigger
// the model, blind
Evaluating only Tink Labs’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Unit economics as the #1 likely cause. Documented cause: No market fit.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Terence Kwok founds Tink Labs to supply smartphones to hotel guests, eliminating roaming charges.
MILESTONE
Tink Labs begins securing major hotel chain clients including Hyatt, InterContinental, and Shangri-La.
MILESTONE
Tink Labs reaches peak expansion with devices in 600,000 hotel rooms across 82 countries. Valued at $1.5B unicorn status.
FUNDING
SoftBank's mobile unit invests via joint venture in Japan, marking peak valuation and beginning of end.
CRISIS
SoftBank abruptly discontinues Japanese joint venture, cutting off primary liquidity source due to concerns about fund misallocation.
SHUTDOWN
Tink Labs shuts down operations, unable to pay 250-500 employees and contractors. Major bills like Wind Tre's $180k telecom charge remain unpaid.