Lessons learned from a startup set up to fail reveal the importance of discovering, rather than assuming, purpose.The author reflects on a startup experience mirroring the cautionary tale from 'What I Learned Losing A Million Dollars.'Joining a fledgling firm with unclear customer needs and insufficient validation led to inevitable failure.Issues arose from a top-down approach, lack of industry experience, and an ambiguous problem statement.Outsourcing the core value proposition and neglecting customer feedback further compounded challenges.The belated realization that no specific problem was being solved marked the startup's downfall after two wasted years.A rushed pivot to Marketing Mix Modelling highlighted the team's lacking expertise in solving industry challenges.The parallels drawn between the startup CEO and Jim Paul emphasize false confidence and a failure to accept losses.Key lessons include prioritizing validated solutions, customer-centric approaches, and prudent investment strategies.The author concludes that despite the invaluable learnings, this startup failure remains a pivotal professional experience.