Robert Huynh built Nook, a blue-collar job marketplace in Vietnam, through Y Combinator. He hit 50,000 users, raised at a $20M valuation, then watched it all crumble. This is his brutally honest post-mortem.
In this raw conversation, Robert reveals:
The growth hack that got 50K users FAST
Why a $20M valuation couldn't fix broken unit economics
The cultural blindspots that killed the business
How to tell your team you're shutting down
His mental health struggles during the crisis
Why co-founder selection makes or breaks everything
His comeback story with Reforged Labs
This isn't another success story. It's the unfiltered truth about startup failure, the hidden costs of building in unfamiliar markets, and what it really takes to bounce back.
Perfect for entrepreneurs, startup employees, or anyone curious about what happens when the Silicon Valley dream meets harsh reality.
Guest: Robert Huynh - Harvard MBA, 2x Y Combinator alum, Co-Founder of Nook (acquired users but failed) and Reforged Labs (AI marketing agents)