[danjac]

I think it might be more instructive to have a side by side comparison: why did startup A in fail and startup B succeed, assuming they are in the same space?

For example, why did Facebook take over the world and not MySpace? Why did DOS beat CP/M?

Or a non-tech example: why did Amundsen beat Scott to the South Pole? Was it down to technique (e.g. using dogs instead of motored vehicles) or mindset?