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Someone already mentioned it: it is my first time as CTO. I had experience with startups before - worked on couple of projects (some of them are in production,

Someone already mentioned it: it is my first time as CTO. I had experience with startups before - worked on couple of projects (some of them are in production, some of them not), tried to find investor(s), met a lot of people, had a lot of discussions, etc. Before,I worked as a developer (senior and teamlead) and when this opportunity came for even lower money than was my salary at that time I wanted to try it. Wanted to know if I am able to lead people at this level. Wanted to know if my experience can help that company. I think (and also based on the feedback I got) everything is going well. Lot of problems were solved and many decisions comes as very good and effective (of course there were also many bad ones). But last couple of months I just cannot get rid of this bad feeling, that it is not as it should be...

jgilias 4y ago
So, you joined, found out that you can do this, now you have CTO of a small company on your resume. Which does mean something. It sounds like you've gotten out of this employment what you originally wanted. I think this is the point where you need a transparent conversation with the owners about your role, and your future. Make sure to structure it in a non-adversial way, and make it something along the lines of how you see all these possibilities of improvement that could yield great results for the company, and that you'd really like to work on it more than just the 9to5 to make it happen, but not having skin in the game to reap the full benefits of your work when it will inevitably bring in a lot of money is a mental drag that you'd like to get rid of. Be prepared to talk numbers. Have an idea in your mind of what you're going after. Be prepared to have it negotiated as an options agreement. E.g., that you buy it with your money at some valuation. Be prepared that their offer may be insulting to you. Be prepared to move on in case it doesn't work out. This is really in a lot of ways about what kind of a relationship you have with the owner(s).

jgilias 4y ago

So, you joined, found out that you can do this, now you have CTO of a small company on your resume. Which does mean something. It sounds like you've gotten out of this employment what you originally wanted. I think this is the point where you need a transparent conversation with the owners about your role, and your future. Make sure to structure it in a non-adversial way, and make it something along the lines of how you see all these possibilities of improvement that could yield great results for the company, and that you'd really like to work on it more than just the 9to5 to make it happen, but not having skin in the game to reap the full benefits of your work when it will inevitably bring in a lot of money is a mental drag that you'd like to get rid of. Be prepared to talk numbers. Have an idea in your mind of what you're going after. Be prepared to have it negotiated as an options agreement. E.g., that you buy it with your money at some valuation. Be prepared that their offer may be insulting to you. Be prepared to move on in case it doesn't work out. This is really in a lot of ways about what kind of a relationship you have with the owner(s).