The Great Fail kicks off Season 3 with one of the biggest failures of 2023 thus far, as we watched one of the nation’s largest banks unravel. Once a rising star in the tech industry, Silicon Valley Bank was a paragon for startup founders and venture capitalists reaching dizzying heights of success in 2020. So how did it go from boom to bust just a few short years after? Was it greed, mismanagement, or something more sinister? You won’t want to miss this riveting exploration of Silicon Valley Bank’s rise and fall.

Listen to Episode 55 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Professor Mark T. Williams for his contributions to this segment. 

Episode Sources  

For 40 years, Silicon Valley Bank was a tech industry icon. It collapsed in just days 

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO SILICON VALLEY BANK 

What Happened to Silicon Valley Bank? 

The tech industry moved fast and broke its most prestigious bank 

Here’s how the second-biggest bank collapse in U.S. history happened in just 48 hours 

The Ugly Lessons of Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse 

Why almost everyone failed to predict Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse 

Fed’s Barr to Congress: SVB’s failure is ‘textbook case of mismanagement’ 

This is why SVB imploded, says top Fed official 

FDIC says First Citizens Bank has reached deal to purchase Silicon Valley Bank 

Silicon Valley Bank Collapse: Lessons for Boards 

Is Moody’s Ratings Downgrade The Reason Why Silicon Valley Bank Fell? 

Silicon Valley Bank: A Timeline and Summary of Events 

Silicon Valley Bank’s demise began with a downgrade threat 

Special Guest