BlackBerry

BlackBerry, founded in 1984 by Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, initially made its mark by revolutionizing mobile communications with its iconic keyboard-clad devices. Once the gold standard for corporate executives and texting enthusiasts alike, BlackBerry was the pinnacle of tech chic in the early 2000s, its devices practically synonymous with "business casual." However, this Canadian titan's fall from grace was as dramatic as its rise, epitomized by a spectacular failure to pivot from its once-coveted keyboards to touchscreens, missing the smartphone revolution that Apple and Android rode to glory. As of late, BlackBerry’s valuation has taken a nosedive, with the company now worth a fraction of its peak—clinging to its legacy of security software and IoT solutions like a fond memory of a bygone era. Its struggle to keep up with rivals and a series of leadership changes—most notably under CEO John Chen, who attempted to rebrand the company in the wake of its hardware decline—has turned the once-untouchable brand into a cautionary tale about the perils of resting on one's laurels.