Badly. The first problem was that I was an employee, even though I was the one who actually had made the product the investment was based on. No shares for me.

Badly. The first problem was that I was an employee, even though I was the one who actually had made the product the investment was based on. No shares for me. I shouldn't have accepted it, but you don't say no to friends. The situation could have improved, but didn't. End of friendship. Don't go into business with friends or family, certainly not on unequal terms. OTOH, I later joined an existing start-up as a simple employee, to contribute to their great plan. It was a great plan, but couldn't be sold, so that ended, but I did end up befriending my most direct colleague of that period.