The article argues that even the best products can fail if companies lack proper corporate governance to guard against profit-driven predators. It reviews Eric Ries’s new book, Incorruptible, which outlines alternative governance structures—like “mission-locked” setups—to protect founders, culture, and long-term vision.

• Great products regularly fail not from market rejection but because investors/boards oust founders and erode culture once a product shows promise
• Traditional corporate governance (as designed by lawyers and business schools) makes companies vulnerable to hostile takeovers and mission drift, rather than protecting them
• Eric Ries's book "Incorruptible" proposes "mission-locked" governance structures that keep companies tied to their founding purpose regardless of investor changes
• Real companies have already implemented these mission-locked safeguards from inception, suggesting governance design deserves as much attention as the product roadmap