I just want to walk away from it now, as I can't move forward with the project. What should I do? Do I have to officially dissolve the corporation somehow? I'm really disinclined to ask a lawyer for anything, as I'm already totally broke.
Suggestions?
I've learned that the most important thing is building a product, and that the actual incorporation can be done later. You technically don't even need a real corporation until much later in the process than you would expect (I have friends who run successful businesses as sole proprietorships).
As for what you can do now, IANAL, but having been in a similar situation myself (startup died and I was left with a C-Corp), you have a bunch of options. You can dissolve it right now, or hold on to it for a while to see if something else takes off. There's a certain minimum amount that having a company will cost you in taxes and fees (about a grand a year if you're in CA, and likely less if you're elsewhere). For a Delaware Corp that's actually elsewhere, you need to pay for a registered agent, which is like $200 a year. You need to file some report and pay some tax to Delaware as well, but the time/money involved with that requirement is pretty minimal.
If you want to dissolve it yourself, it isn't that hard. There are a bunch of forms you need to fill out, but it isn't all that difficult to do so (you can find them online). You could just let it die (if you don't pay the taxes/fees, it will eventually get shut down).
Having a C-Corp/S-Corp/LLC is pretty expensive, though.
Of course being a director/owner also brings it's own responsibilities which you must respect.
While this is true, it may be worth having an LLC or something more than a sole proprietorship given how people love to sue for any reason they can find.
Companies and accounts, while they are important, should only come as a second priority (or even lower, depending on your situation)
I would recommend getting rid of all the unnecessary burden and focusing on value.
I'm not sure how complex it is to dissolve companies in the US, but in UK it is fairly straight forward for a small company. Naturally, things get pretty complex if you've been established and active for a while.
If you do want to go forward with this, it sounds like you'll need a co-founder. That means giving-up equity and convincing someone to work with you. (PG often says that if you can't convince someone to go into business with you, then it's probably a bad idea.)
So if you can build a prototype or at least a mock-up, and if you can get a co-founder onboard, then you can consider applying to an accelerator or incubator.
I think most people on HN would agree that before incorporating, its smart to build a product and prove its viability/desirability. Except, of course, in capital intensive situations where funding (and thus incorporation) comes first.
That is why I posted this in a sincere, although perhaps too short comment. The author should not be disillusioned but keep pushing forward, ideas are plentiful and worth very little without proper execution.
You seem to be using the word "company" to referring to something different.