Honor Your Venture. Help Others Learn. Advance the Science.
For founders who've closed their ventures - and those seeking their wisdom
Your investment of time, money, and passion deserves more than your silent grief. Share your story - find closure while helping future founders avoid the same path.
SOIL is building the world's first database of organizational autopsies. Your experience becomes sniper-matched guidance for others facing similar challenges.
Three Pillars of Change
Scientific Rigor
We apply systematic, evidence-based methodology to data collection and analysis. From structured interviews to emerging patterns, we let the data speak - no preconceptions, no shortcuts.
Founder Healing
Providing founders with closure and dignity after the end of their ventures. Through structured storytelling, we transform painful experiences into meaningful contributions.
Respect
Entrepreneurs are undervalued by society despite their sacrifices and contributions. We work to restore the recognition they deserve - from communities, institutions, and governments.
“Those who do not shepherd their sheep will not find any one day”
A Cenotaph for Every Venture
Every organization on SOIL gets a cenotaph erected in its honor. A cenotaph - from Greek meaning “empty tomb” - is a monument for someone whose remains are elsewhere.
Here, your cenotaph becomes the permanent digital memorial for your venture: a place where its story, lessons, and legacy are preserved forever. Together, all cenotaphs form the Cenotaphery - a collective memorial garden honoring organizations that shaped their founders and taught the world.
Systematic approach to organization research at scale
SOIL is building the world's first systematic database of organizational autopsies. We capture comprehensive data from founders who've closed their ventures - not to judge, but to learn.
Our proprietary Interview Framework guides founders through a structured reflection process across 6 modules: organizational mapping, financial analysis, timeline of events, environmental factors, founder context, and meaning-making narrative. Each module extracts actionable insights while providing therapeutic closure.
is our minimal goal.
Data Collection
Our Interview Framework captures comprehensive organizational data through 6 structured modules - from functional mapping to founder narrative.
Anonymization
Privacy by default. All sensitive information is protected, ensuring safe participation for every contributor.
Pattern Emergence
Framework-agnostic analysis lets the data speak. We avoid imposing theories, allowing patterns to emerge naturally.
Open Research
Anonymized datasets available to researchers worldwide, enabling collaborative advancement of organizational science.
Machine Learning
Building specialized AI models trained on organizational data for future diagnostic and analytical tools.
The Heart of SOIL: building together
Our success is measured by the strength of our community. Together, we transform individual efforts into collective wisdom that benefits future generations.
Sharing my story with SOIL was unexpectedly healing. The interview framework helped me see patterns I had missed while living through the chaos. This isn't just data collection - it's a form of closure.
- Sarah Chen, Former CEO