Ask HN: When and why did you give up on starting a company? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: When and why did you give up on starting a company?

9 pointssp5276 comments

Many people never try to build a company or never come across a problem they think is worth solving. But I'm curious about those who have (or have considered it) and then, for whatever reason, opted out of the path.

What did it feel like to give up? Does it still bother you? What was the shift in mindset necessary to get you over the emotional/psychological hurdle of quitting? Are you absolutely sure you'll never try again?

Trying to get a contrarian perspective.

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Once upon a time I set out to just build a startup fueled by ambition. I designed and strategized, e.t.c basics of the product, but I always found it hard to find a (technical) cofounder despite talking to friends. After learning to code and realizing how much work (& burnout) I'd have to put in before this takes off, I opted out knowing I wasn't trying to make a product users want. A proof of that was the difficulty in finding a cofounder despite having skilled enough friends. I got into depression. As I opted out, started learning the process of creating products that actually have real users wanting. I read carefully all of PG's essays, used Headspace for meditating & focused on good diet. The most important lesson was about fixing broken problems in your daily life. Now, I'm working on a new startup with 2 other cofounders who are actually passionate about what we're building. We have alot of feedback/subscribed users and safe to say, we're on the right track.

I guess the idea of 'think big' is just wrong. Young folks get pressured into 'making it' that they believe thinking big would solve your problems/make you great. That's what I experienced. Don't think big, focus on discovering the tiny little things - the ones broken, and fix them. That's joy enough for a Hacker.

That last point you make is very PGesque. IIRC, he wrote that the truly good problems exhibit pants-on-fire demand amongst a small number of people, and are therefore at first generally very niche. I think he even said there's usually no way to predict if you'll ever break out of that niche.

Hope your new startup goes well!

I started a company (LLC) to develop something I was trying to patent (utility patent). I kept things going as a side business for about 5 years while I worked a full time job, wrangled the patent, and put money and time into manufacturing, designs, and marketing. I hoped to build up a customer base to show the value of the patent and then license the patent to other manufacturers.

When the patent application failed, I decided to close the business. Without the IP, the more I built the market, the more likely someone else would come in to compete, and an established manufacturer could definitely beat me on price.

I learned a lot about how difficult marketing is (I come from a mathematics and software background) and how much footwork goes into sales. I also made some mistakes in the patent process I won't make again.

It sucked to give up, but was also a relief. I wasn't betting my future on it, so it wasn't a huge hurdle to make the call. No patent == no business.

I'll probably try again some day.

Agreed about marketing and sales. I feel like the hacker mindset tends towards 'build it and they will come', with a ???? for the phase in between.

I haven't 100% given up, but I've postponed it indefinitely.

When? For the past 4 years.

Why? For several reasons.

I started a company before (3 times actually).

The solo business was a slog, spending a lot of time doing things I hated to for barely enough money to feed myself, and with little outlook for growth.

The first VC-funded startup burned me out big-time. I'm not cut out for years on end of 60-plus hour weeks for a tiny chance at a large payout and a 98% chance at nothing. Especially given the opportunity cost of a senior engineer's salary.

The second startup I almost didn't do, but I was super passionate about the topic. Unfortunately, the team fell apart, but not before the stress impacted my health (permanently) - and the other things I learned from that experience informed the other major reason I'm not doing that again any time soon.

Which is that ideas are a dime a dozen, but good ones are rare, and marketing is HARD.

If I were to stumble across an idea I couldn't pass up, that would make a solid lifestyle business (no way I do the VC dance again) and that I could build in my spare time... ok, I might try again.

But starting a company and hitting it big areno longer part of my dream.

Instead I'm working on moving to a place I want to live, finding a 20-30 hour/week gig (be it contract or salaried work), and living a life that I can actually enjoy day to day, spending time with people I care about.

This is a really great account and it sounds like the experience at least helped inform your outlook on life in a positive way. Thanks!

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