4 ms·

Should I leave my startup?

• solost 16y ago
  My suggestion before doing anything else, decide whether the real problem is the other founder or the business. Once you answer that question it can make the decision making process either. Looking at everything you have said, my interpretation is that you are basically displeased with: 1. Your non technical co-founder and the way he interacts with you 2. The lack of a technical team both from a work load and social perspective If you really believe, like you say you do, that the business is going to go somewhere then it would be really foolish to walk away before exploring all avenues for solving issues 1 and 2 above. I'd consider a heart to heart with your co-founder and explain very clearly what is bothering you about your interactions together and see if there is a way to solve your issues. I'd also look at the business assets and see if there would be a way to hire, even if part-time, another technical person to assist you. If neither of these approaches brings you relief, consider buying out your partner if it is something you could manage to do? It isn't always bad to walk away from a project. However with what you have said, it opens a lot of questions about you personally as well. Starting a business is always extremely difficult, my last suggestion would be to take a really good look at yourself in the mirror and ask would you be leaving for the right reasons? If the answer is yes and nothing else works then you have to leave.
  • thisisnotreal 16y ago
    Your interpretation is correct and thanks for the honest comment. I do not enjoy working with him anymore and I need to talk to him about it. I could not afford to buy him out and I'm not even sure I would want to as he has expressed his desire to continue on. I am starting to think that I don't like the product because I don't like working with my co-founder. I have been getting mixed advice from friends and my gf who seem to think I'm working on a project going nowhere. For the amount of time we've spent on it, it hasn't gone anywhere near where we have dreamed. The product itself always sounds good in conversation, but has been an extremely hard sell so far. It rarely meets the user's expectations or ours and doesn't provide value for everyone who pays for it, which is tough. I'm really torn, because I've been trying to figure out if I want to leave for good reasons or because it's tough and I see unique opportunities that might not be there next year and I want to jump on them.
• perucoder 16y ago
  Could it be that you're burnt out from this startup plus your other commitments? Is it possible for you to focus on the startup full time? Since you're one of the founders, can you get rid of your current team and build the team you want to work with?
• canterburry 16y ago
  As a founder, you are the only one with the power to change the things you don't like about your company. If you don't think you have the right people with the right energy, change that aspect of the company. It sounds a bit like you have capitulated to how things are... I worked for a startup once where the founders had hired a CEO to manage things. They just stood by while the CEO ran the company into the ground even though it was in their power to step in at any moment. They chose not to have a confrontation over having a company. Don't be that owner. Have a very serious conversation with your co-founder about how you feel and that you are on the brink of pulling out. Maybe that will make him listen to you, but have a very well laid out plan for what you want and how you want things to be, including any people you may want to replace.
• zohebv 16y ago
  Out of curiosity, can you tell us more about your startup? The website etc. I am sorry, I lack the experience to help you with any advice regarding your current situation.
• jacquesm 16y ago
  This is not going to be something you will likely have fun reading, but read on anyway. Starting a company together means you're in for the good and the bad. I understand you're not feeling good in the current situation, and that there are many factors, including the relationship with your co-founder at the root of this. But you don't have to sleep with your co-founder, just get the job done and make it in to a working relationship. Try to discuss the problem openly and try to chart a path to where you want to be. Whatever opportunities have come your way will need to take a back-seat to solving your exit in an orderly manner first. Your question to me is mostly rhetorical, I think you are looking for confirmation that you should leave. I'm not going to tell you whether you should or should not, I feel that once someone gets to the point of posting stuff like this they've made up their mind already and any advice you give to the contrary is likely to be ignored anyway. I would just moderate the whole thing by suggesting you take your time over this, work out together with your co-founder on how you can transition to someone taking your place without wrecking what you've built up, and without using your newfound opportunities as a motivation to leave in a hurry. That's the best for everybody involved, including you, you do not want to be known as the guy that will hang around until he finds something better. best of luck, I hope you guys/girls can work it out without losing what you've put so much energy in. Jacques
• hga 16y ago
  "I feel like my co-founder is talks down to me, lectures me, and is extremely stubborn. He does his part though...." I have to disagree. No co-founder who trashes the morale of his partner(s) (or others in the company) is really "doing his part" to make the company succeed. As others have said, try to work things out, but it sounds like either he doesn't respect you or is incapable of expressing that if he does. A big enough, soon enough improvement in either is unlikely. Speak to him frankly (should be easy in so far as you're willing to walk if ths can't be worked out), give him a short but bounded chance to improve, and then the right path should be obvious.