4 ms·

Well despite the fact that this is very stressful, I would start with the maxim that one should employ Hanlon's Razor[0] and not ascribe to malice what can adeq

by CPLX 12y ago

Well despite the fact that this is very stressful, I would start with the maxim that one should employ Hanlon's Razor[0] and not ascribe to malice what can adequately be explained by stupidity. It's quite possible, nee probable, that they are just disorganized and genuinely thought you already knew, or that it didn't matter, or otherwise were clueless or inexperienced enough to not really understand what had happened. I think it would be a mistake to get into it with them on a war footing. Early stage companies like this make mistakes of this kind all the time, and it's not necessarily a sign that the whole ship is doomed. If they have the ability to get revenue and investment and pay salaries and whatnot it's possible that there's a positive outcome in the future. I would schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer who deals with these kinds of things. Get a referral and schedule an hour or so to go over it with them. They'll probably charge you a few hundred bucks, or even waive it if you have a close friend or existing client of theirs refer you. Sit down with a lawyer, bring the docs, and explain what happened and get some sense of the implications. Then approach the founders with the attitude that it must be an administrative mistake or misunderstanding. If they are evasive or otherwise shady that should become clear quickly. If they are genuinely concerned and want to help fix the problem then great. But personally I wouldn't blow up your relationship with everyone until you have a better idea which of those two scenarios is more descriptive. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon's_razor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon's_razor

aantix 12y ago
OP should consider this a good lesson (and one that I learned going through an acquisition); unless you're a founder, you cannot control "the deal". Unless you're in the room when the chips are (re)divvied up, you have to trust someone else to advocate for you. And after tolling away for a few years, trading your life for the promise of a better future through being acquired, ultimately you end up in a shitty position. Don't be diluted in thinking the founders will "take care of everyone". Your only leverage in the end is to walk away (and try and blow up the deal or company, if you're that critical). And if you do walk and they don't stop you and counter offer, you probably weren't going to get anything anyway.
- smt88 12y ago
  > and try and blow up the deal or company Never do that. Not only does it create bad blood, which could only be bad for you in the long run, it may also leave you open to a lawsuit. The business world is often about shoveling shit. People who always get their revenge tend to have no friends and lots of burned bridges.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  - pound 12y ago
    yes, it's expected that you'll never do or say anything bad about past jobs(/companies/environments/people). But other side of this status quo is enabling all the assholes to be assholes and just helping them to continue behaving/acting like they do. that's a bit offtopic though.
    - Frondo 12y ago
      This type of withholding of information prevents others from making informed choices. "Don't burn your bridges" implies that these are bridges worth preserving--sometimes they aren't, and you're doing others a favor by letting them know.
  - aantix 12y ago
    >Not only does it create bad blood, which could only be bad for you in the long run, it may also leave you open to a lawsuit. Don't buy this fud. There's nothing illegal about walking away from a shitty deal. Whatever your motives just plainly state "this deal no longer makes sense for me". If you're a great engineer, then have some self respect, and walk away from a shitty deal. Go somewhere else where they respect the people that build value. And if you aren't a great engineer, you weren't going to get anything anyways, so go somewhere that will raise your game and better positions you for the future. >People who always get their revenge tend to have no friends and lots of burned bridges There's a big difference between being bitter on a daily basis vs coming to terms with your past three years that are basically only going to net you an extra 100K (which you could easily get hustling in a few months consulting in SV). Think deliberately about what you're toiling away for. An extra 20K? An extra 100K? REALLY? All the extra weekends for years is worth that? Get mad at yourself. Demand more. And if they deny you, walk, and position yourself better next time.
giarc 12y ago
Is there even a reason the co-founders would do this with malicious intent? Is there possibly any financial gain they could realize out of not telling the other co-founder? Could it be an attempt to make him leave (he only owns 3%) before fully vested? I very much agree with you, likely not malicious.
appleflaxen 12y ago
"quite possible, nee probable, that" vs "...quite possible, nay, probable, that" I always thought it was the latter. Are these the same? i don't think so, but i'm not great with language rules.
- dragonwriter 12y ago
  No, "nee" is a French import meaning "born" used to introduce someone's birth name when it differs from their current name (and, sometimes, by analogy, to introduce the original name of a product, etc., when it differs from the current name.) "nay" was the word that was almost certainly intended in GP.

by CPLX 12y ago

aantix 12y ago

OP should consider this a good lesson (and one that I learned going through an acquisition); unless you're a founder, you cannot control "the deal". Unless you're in the room when the chips are (re)divvied up, you have to trust someone else to advocate for you. And after tolling away for a few years, trading your life for the promise of a better future through being acquired, ultimately you end up in a shitty position. Don't be diluted in thinking the founders will "take care of everyone". Your only leverage in the end is to walk away (and try and blow up the deal or company, if you're that critical). And if you do walk and they don't stop you and counter offer, you probably weren't going to get anything anyway.

smt88 12y ago
> and try and blow up the deal or company Never do that. Not only does it create bad blood, which could only be bad for you in the long run, it may also leave you open to a lawsuit. The business world is often about shoveling shit. People who always get their revenge tend to have no friends and lots of burned bridges.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- pound 12y ago
  yes, it's expected that you'll never do or say anything bad about past jobs(/companies/environments/people). But other side of this status quo is enabling all the assholes to be assholes and just helping them to continue behaving/acting like they do. that's a bit offtopic though.
  - Frondo 12y ago
    This type of withholding of information prevents others from making informed choices. "Don't burn your bridges" implies that these are bridges worth preserving--sometimes they aren't, and you're doing others a favor by letting them know.
- aantix 12y ago
  >Not only does it create bad blood, which could only be bad for you in the long run, it may also leave you open to a lawsuit. Don't buy this fud. There's nothing illegal about walking away from a shitty deal. Whatever your motives just plainly state "this deal no longer makes sense for me". If you're a great engineer, then have some self respect, and walk away from a shitty deal. Go somewhere else where they respect the people that build value. And if you aren't a great engineer, you weren't going to get anything anyways, so go somewhere that will raise your game and better positions you for the future. >People who always get their revenge tend to have no friends and lots of burned bridges There's a big difference between being bitter on a daily basis vs coming to terms with your past three years that are basically only going to net you an extra 100K (which you could easily get hustling in a few months consulting in SV). Think deliberately about what you're toiling away for. An extra 20K? An extra 100K? REALLY? All the extra weekends for years is worth that? Get mad at yourself. Demand more. And if they deny you, walk, and position yourself better next time.

giarc 12y ago

Is there even a reason the co-founders would do this with malicious intent? Is there possibly any financial gain they could realize out of not telling the other co-founder? Could it be an attempt to make him leave (he only owns 3%) before fully vested? I very much agree with you, likely not malicious.

appleflaxen 12y ago

"quite possible, nee probable, that" vs "...quite possible, nay, probable, that" I always thought it was the latter. Are these the same? i don't think so, but i'm not great with language rules.

dragonwriter 12y ago
No, "nee" is a French import meaning "born" used to introduce someone's birth name when it differs from their current name (and, sometimes, by analogy, to introduce the original name of a product, etc., when it differs from the current name.) "nay" was the word that was almost certainly intended in GP.