<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false">The article discusses eight tech startups that faced various challenges and ultimately sank below the surface.Issues ranged from legal exposure to ethical decay and financial mismanagement leading to closures or significant restructuring.Key lessons include practicing security, emphasizing transparency in autonomy claims, and prioritizing ethics over code development.The startups serve as cautionary tales about the importance of trust, integrity, and solving real problems in the cybersecurity industry.