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This article reminded me of the time a guy wanted to pitch his startup idea for me to develop. He wanted me to sign an NDA before telling me, as the idea was so

This article reminded me of the time a guy wanted to pitch his startup idea for me to develop. He wanted me to sign an NDA before telling me, as the idea was so great that I would obviously steal it, which I refused. So all he would tell me is that it was “the next Twitter”, and from what I could gather, he would retain the majority of the equity and I would do all of the work, while he lobbed ideas at me from on high. I passed on it, but only because the red flags were extremely obvious. I could certainly see a situation where I might have been sucked into something more subtly exploitative.

kjs3 2y ago
I can't even count the number of times I've heard this pitch, complete with NDA demand. The only answer is "Thanks, but no thanks". I have never had to regret it.
bityard 2y ago
This needs to be highlighted: Everyone who does anything at all in the realm of business or tech should basically never sign an NDA unless it is already positively guaranteed they are getting something out of it. You might be required to sign an NDA once you have been hired at a W-2 job if the company handles sensitive data. Or if you have already been offered a contract. Event then, make sure it is actually necessary, and run it by your lawyer. But if someone wants you to sign an NDA just to hear about their idea or business, or as a condition of being interviewed for a job, ALWAYS say no. VCs don't sign NDAs and neither should you. It's plain and simple uncompensated risk. https://blog.jpl-consulting.com/2012/04/why-i-wont-sign-your-nda/ https://blog.jpl-consulting.com/2012/04/why-i-wont-sign-your... https://www.markwelchblog.com/2009/08/26/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/ https://www.markwelchblog.com/2009/08/26/why-i-dont-sign-nda... https://blog.hartleybrody.com/wont-sign-nda/ https://blog.hartleybrody.com/wont-sign-nda/
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  Reminds me of this classic bit: https://www.davar.net/HUMOR/STORIES/MS-CUISN.HTM https://www.davar.net/HUMOR/STORIES/MS-CUISN.HTM
ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
I used to get these “opportunities,” on a weekly basis. As soon as someone hears what I do, and that I’m retired, and doing it for the fun, I hear cha-ching! in the background, somewhere, and their eyes light up. But yeah, we’re a dime a dozen.
emmelaich 2y ago
I've seen this on reddit or similar. Guy has an amazing idea, all he needs is a developer, sales person, finance person, management team, .... It reads like a parody but it was serious.

kjs3 2y ago

I can't even count the number of times I've heard this pitch, complete with NDA demand. The only answer is "Thanks, but no thanks". I have never had to regret it.

bityard 2y ago

This needs to be highlighted: Everyone who does anything at all in the realm of business or tech should basically never sign an NDA unless it is already positively guaranteed they are getting something out of it. You might be required to sign an NDA once you have been hired at a W-2 job if the company handles sensitive data. Or if you have already been offered a contract. Event then, make sure it is actually necessary, and run it by your lawyer. But if someone wants you to sign an NDA just to hear about their idea or business, or as a condition of being interviewed for a job, ALWAYS say no. VCs don't sign NDAs and neither should you. It's plain and simple uncompensated risk. https://blog.jpl-consulting.com/2012/04/why-i-wont-sign-your-nda/ https://blog.jpl-consulting.com/2012/04/why-i-wont-sign-your... https://www.markwelchblog.com/2009/08/26/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/ https://www.markwelchblog.com/2009/08/26/why-i-dont-sign-nda... https://blog.hartleybrody.com/wont-sign-nda/ https://blog.hartleybrody.com/wont-sign-nda/

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
Reminds me of this classic bit: https://www.davar.net/HUMOR/STORIES/MS-CUISN.HTM https://www.davar.net/HUMOR/STORIES/MS-CUISN.HTM

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago

I used to get these “opportunities,” on a weekly basis. As soon as someone hears what I do, and that I’m retired, and doing it for the fun, I hear cha-ching! in the background, somewhere, and their eyes light up. But yeah, we’re a dime a dozen.

emmelaich 2y ago

I've seen this on reddit or similar. Guy has an amazing idea, all he needs is a developer, sales person, finance person, management team, .... It reads like a parody but it was serious.