Webvan
Webvan was an online grocery delivery service founded in 1996. It aimed to revolutionize the way people shopped for groceries by allowing customers to order items through a website and have them delivered to their homes. The company expanded rapidly, operating in several major cities across the United States.
Despite its initial success, Webvan faced significant challenges, including high operational costs and intense competition. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2001, marking a notable failure in the early days of e-commerce. Its story serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of rapid expansion without sustainable business practices.