3 ms·
Ask HN: 3 years, 0 Clients - being offered 20% or money back
I've started this as a subcontracting project, later turned into a partnership with a friend based on goodwill.
Timeline:
- [T-3 years]: Partner idea - B2B (enterprise targeted) with a physical-world component in the workflow. Features driven mostly by partner. Target market in North America.
- [T-2 years]: MVP with most time spent in writing/rewriting. Just after a MVP, partner relocates (to Middle East) for his FT job. Target market switched to ME.
- [T-1 years]: Paper company established in ME. Major competitor attempted hiring my Partner - but he rejected offer citing our company.
- [T]: A potential of a client by year-end.
Now, I'm being offered either of:
- 20% partnership against further dedicated time.
- Investing portion of the 20% in the company and cashing the rest.
- My subcontracting money back with no further obligations.
In terms of potential, there's a market. However, I'm suspicious for few reasons.
What do you think HN?
- GFKjunior 14y agoI would definitely get the money back, that's just me though.
- Morg 14y agoI personally wouldn't ever trust anything that fails to deliver in three years, however I'm excessively impatient. As all the talkers put it, a startup is about being extremely dedicated (and resourceful and stuff, but hey...) and your partner is not. If he was, he wouldn't have an FT job three years later. If he was, he wouldn't have accepted the relocation. If he was, the target market would not change because he's moving.
- facorreia 14y agoI think you should trust your intuition. This looks fishy. If you can get a decent rate on the time you put in, that might be your best bet.