diff --git a/.chloggen/improve_start_component_error.yaml b/.chloggen/improve_start_component_error.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7f85dec2637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/improve_start_component_error.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: 'enhancement'
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. otlpreceiver)
+component: service
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: include component id/type in start error
+
+# One or more tracking issues or pull requests related to the change
+issues: [10426]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext:
+
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: []
diff --git a/service/internal/graph/graph.go b/service/internal/graph/graph.go
index 3f5ae33fd91..022aff65b7e 100644
--- a/service/internal/graph/graph.go
+++ b/service/internal/graph/graph.go
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ func (g *Graph) StartAll(ctx context.Context, host *Host) error {
 					zap.String("type", instanceID.Kind().String()),
 					zap.String("id", instanceID.ComponentID().String()),
 				)
-			return compErr
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to start %q %s: %w", instanceID.ComponentID().String(), strings.ToLower(instanceID.Kind().String()), compErr)
 		}
 
 		host.Reporter.ReportOKIfStarting(instanceID)
diff --git a/service/internal/graph/lifecycle_test.go b/service/internal/graph/lifecycle_test.go
index 07db29df3e4..eddf131d82f 100644
--- a/service/internal/graph/lifecycle_test.go
+++ b/service/internal/graph/lifecycle_test.go
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func TestGraphStartStopComponentError(t *testing.T) {
 		F: r1,
 		T: e1,
 	})
-	require.EqualError(t, pg.StartAll(context.Background(), &Host{Reporter: status.NewReporter(func(*componentstatus.InstanceID, *componentstatus.Event) {}, func(error) {})}), "foo")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, pg.StartAll(context.Background(), &Host{Reporter: status.NewReporter(func(*componentstatus.InstanceID, *componentstatus.Event) {}, func(error) {})}), r1.startErr)
 	assert.EqualError(t, pg.ShutdownAll(context.Background(), statustest.NewNopStatusReporter()), "bar")
 }
 
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ func TestStatusReportedOnStartupShutdown(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			pg.componentGraph.SetEdge(simple.Edge{F: e0, T: e1})
 
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.startupErr, pg.StartAll(context.Background(), &Host{Reporter: rep}))
+			require.ErrorIs(t, pg.StartAll(context.Background(), &Host{Reporter: rep}), tt.startupErr)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.shutdownErr, pg.ShutdownAll(context.Background(), rep))
 			assertEqualStatuses(t, tt.expectedStatuses, actualStatuses)
 		})