Jawbone Liquidation Inflicts Losses, Prompts CEO Move to Health
- Company was early wearables pioneer, known for sleek design
- Health holds promise but also risks; will face Apple, Fitbit
Jawbone fitness tracker
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Jawbone Inc. is liquidating, though its chief executive officer is starting again with a company that moves out of the fitness-tracker business in favor of health-related products, an area that deeper-pocketed rivals also are entering.
Founded in 1999, Jawbone was once a darling of Silicon Valley and regarded as a pioneer in wearable technology. Yet the company missed payments, had manufacturing issues that led to refunds for its fitness device and cut employees, despite raising multiple rounds of funds over a span of more than a decade. The closely held company also struggled against bigger competition that moved into the wearables market.