GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), delivering daily startup ideas - small bites, big potential.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

• Daily Idea - A different type of restaurant

• The Flops - Good Ol’ Bloody Theranos

Big Flavors, Bite-Sized Delights

The One Liner

Sample big flavors in small bites at Tiny Bites Deli.

The 140 character tweet (or X) version

Step into a restaurant where big flavors come in tiny sandwiches! Try more, share more, and savor every bite-sized delight.

The Longer Story Version - That Maybe You Will Read

Imagine walking into a cozy restaurant where the aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling ingredients fills the air. But this isn’t your typical sandwich shop—here, the magic lies in the miniature.

At this restaurant, every sandwich is served bite-sized, crafted to perfection with the same love and care as a full-sized one. Craving a classic club? A Philly cheesesteak? Maybe something adventurous like a banh mi? You don’t have to choose just one. Order a variety, and suddenly your meal becomes an exciting culinary adventure.

Each tiny sandwich is a burst of flavor, allowing you to explore the menu without commitment or food envy. It's perfect for sharing with friends, trying new tastes, or indulging in a little bit of everything. Here, big flavors meet small bites, and dining becomes a playful experience you won’t forget.

Step into a world of tiny sandwiches and discover how something so small can deliver such a big impact

Needs To Exist Pro

Unlock the Ultimate Startup Idea Repository for Only $99/Year

• 1,000+ Startup Concepts and Counting: Gain access to an ever-growing database of innovative business ideas.

• Effortlessly Searchable and Categorized: Find the perfect idea quickly with our easy-to-use search and categorization features.

• Handpicked from Hundreds of Reputable Sources: Benefit from ideas curated from a vast array of trusted sources.

• Comprehensive Action Plans Included: Get detailed steps to help you take action and bring your chosen idea to life.

The Flops

Not all startup ideas are winners, and not all flops were bad ideas. This one though, was a full out fraud.

Here we dive into the stories behind the misses and the lessons learned.

Theranos

Theranos promised to revolutionize healthcare with a single drop of blood but ended up bleeding investors dry with a river of lies.

The Quick Remark

Promised revolutionary blood tests from a single drop, but collapsed spectacularly due to fraudulent claims and nonexistent technology.

In a Nutshell

Theranos set out to transform healthcare with its promise of performing hundreds of tests using just a single drop of blood. Backed by glowing media coverage and high-profile investors, it soared to a $9 billion valuation. But beneath the surface, the technology never worked, and the company’s operations were built on secrecy and deceit. It all came crashing down as whistleblowers revealed the truth, making Theranos a cautionary tale of ambition overshadowed by fraud.

The Big Scoop

In 2003, Elizabeth Holmes dropped out of Stanford at 19, armed with a bold vision: revolutionize healthcare with Theranos, a startup promising to run hundreds of blood tests from just a single drop. Holmes, with her black turtlenecks and deep, deliberate voice, styled herself as the female Steve Jobs, captivating Silicon Valley, investors, and the media alike.

Theranos raised nearly $1 billion from high-profile backers like Rupert Murdoch, Betsy DeVos, and the Walton family, achieving a $9 billion valuation at its peak. Holmes promised a world where painless, affordable blood tests would replace traditional labs, empowering patients and cutting costs for healthcare providers. The technology was touted as transformative, and Theranos began deploying its Edison devices in Walgreens stores.

But behind the scenes, the truth was far less glamorous. Whistleblowers and investigative journalists exposed that the Edison machines didn’t work as claimed; most tests were run on standard lab equipment rather than Theranos' proprietary technology. The company manipulated test results and concealed its failures from partners, regulators, and even its own board.

The downfall began when The Wall Street Journal published a damning exposé in 2015. Lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and criminal charges followed. By 2018, Theranos was dissolved, and Holmes, along with COO Sunny Balwani, faced charges of fraud.

Theranos wasn’t just a failed startup—it became a global cautionary tale about the dangers of hype, unchecked ambition, and the cult of personality in Silicon Valley. Holmes’ story, once one of promise, became a symbol of deception, with repercussions that reshaped how the world scrutinizes startups in the healthcare space.

One More Meme