Vulpine
The business, the turning points, and the decisions behind them.
01 / WHAT IT BUILT
What the company did
Vulpine Interactive was a US social media and advertising agency founded in 2013 by Derric Haynie, based in Oakland and later San Diego, California. Run with his wife and business partner, it focused on Facebook and Instagram advertising, creative marketing, and social listening and engagement for small businesses. At its peak it served 10 clients with about $40,000 a month in revenue and 5 employees.
02 / Vulpine FAILURE REASONS
Failure reasons
Vulpine's revenue peaked at about $40,000 a month, but expenses ran at $30,000 a month or more, and the business took on at least $70,000 in debt — possibly closer to $125,000 including an investment it accepted. The margins could not support a growing family in San Diego; when the founder received a job offer requiring a move to Miami, the agency was shut down in 2018, leaving the founders with over $70,000 in debt.
03 / EVENT HISTORY
Events in the structured record
- Company founded
Derric Haynie founds Vulpine Interactive, a social media and advertising agency for small businesses.
- Peak funding round
The agency peaks at 10 clients, about $40,000 a month in revenue and 5 employees, but expenses and debt begin to weigh on the business.
- Closure announced
In 2018 the agency is shut down so the founder can take a job in Miami; the business walks away with over $70,000 in debt.
04 / CONTEMPORARY REBUILD ASSESSMENT
Difficulty of rebuilding this project today
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.
Overall assessment: Not completed
05 / CAUSAL CHAIN
How the factors connect
- 01
Social media agency; peak 10 clients, ~$40K/mo
- 02
Expenses ~$30K+/mo; at least $70K debt accumulates
- 03
Margins can't support family; founder takes Miami job
- 04
Agency shut down 2018