> If a founder asks for a NDA just to have coffee, I am out - in my experience it's a 100% indicator of someone who has no idea what the fuck they're doing. In

> If a founder asks for a NDA just to have coffee, I am out - in my experience it's a 100% indicator of someone who has no idea what the fuck they're doing. Indeed. I've seen this countless times, even occasionally in SV where people should know better. Starting a company is really really hard. It's fundamentally about deciding where to channel your energy when you have a completely green field but only enough resources to execute on 0.01% of your ideas. The focus must be pinpoint and relentless to even have a chance. The idea that the risk of someone stealing your idea is worth devoting any mental energy to indicates that you don't have your priorities straight. Hell, even in a worst case scenario where you have a great non-obvious idea, and someone steals it, if you want an NDA so you can sue them then you're essentially betting on their superior execution capability. Run don't walk from this kind of hot air balloon.