Ask HN: Cofounder in startup about to get funding but not feeling it | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Cofounder in startup about to get funding but not feeling it

4 pointsNimitz146 comments

We're about to receive a mil in funding. It's a "cool" startup, as in it's trying to solve a hard problem with a still to be completed hardware solution that also involves a lot of trendy (deep learning and more) software.

I had a discussion with the two cofounders where they confronted me for not being engaged enough. They have a point.

I'm only moderately excited about the product and the problem space. And I don't enjoy working with my cofounders very much.

I am the most experienced (they're basically newgrads). Part of what annoys me is their inexperience (leading to bad decision making, while not listening to common sense advice). At the same time I feel we do complement each other well because we are quite different personality wise, and it's possible that as they mature the issues I have will go away.

I've invested 9 months of ~25% work. It feels crazy to leave when we're about to get funding, and where I don't actually even have to fully commit as I'm parttime at officially 20% supposed to go to 40, and me going fulltime is not being asked for. I'm worried I'm being a diva, I have a habit of dropping people the moment things aren't going well. Maybe creating an ambitious new product does require people that wouldn't hang out normally (diversity is good blabla)?

At the same time there's other things I'd also like to do. And why should I invest more time working on something I'm not excited about, and with people I don't look forward to seeing?

I knew what was gonna happen in the meeting, so I had planned some stuff to say to smooth things over because I thought I should try and stay. But when it was pointed out that after a recent major milestone I hadn't posted anything on any social media, it made me think why I am I working on something that I don't feel the urge to share with anyone? My instinctual answer is because we're very far from having a good product, but I feel that's not good enough. And so I just said I need to think about it.

From what I'm hearing the problem is you. at least to my understanding, because you sound like me(!) when you say "I have a habit of dropping people the moment things aren't going well." as well as "I feel we do complement each other well" and also there's the part time part.

of course I'm in no position to judge based on this short post, but I want to suggest for you to take it as a learning experience, to grind your teeth when needed but keep pushing forward, I know what it's like to feel like "you know better" (technically or otherwise) but instead of taking it to heart, think of yourself as a teacher and become a mentor. learn to overcome communication issues and you will earn greatly in return.

that's what I'm trying to work on. this old way of thinking has been nothing but massive setbacks for me.

I'll answer rhetorically:

- It does not get easier. I can't imagine trying to do more than just this one thing.

- Your relationships do not get lower stakes or lower pressure. Much more of both.

- Once you've intellectually explored the problem, you're still obligated to graft the business onto it.

Are you sure that's what you want? Sounds like a resounding no. I think you should step aside and let the other co-founders use the equity to find someone with the skills.

The heuristic should be 'I want to work on this for 10 years with all non family waking hours whether or not it works' not 'I may feel like working on it 40% of the time or not'

Yeah makes sense. I have read PG's post on doing a startup parttime and it was in the back of my head the whole time.

What do you want to work on? It doesn’t sound like this is it.

Don’t worry about the funding - negotiate an exit that’s fair to everyone if necessary, taking into account the work you’ve done to get to this point.

Better to cut your losses and work on the underlying issues that you hint at in your post.

If you’re not sure yet, then take your time and be as upfront with your colleagues as you can.

Building a successful startup is a grueling marathon. It honestly sucks a lot of the time. It's hyper stressful, you have to absorb a ton of personal risk. Even if it goes well, share preferences can leave you with nothing at the end.

If you don't want to do it, then it's better to tell your co-founders now and walk. You'll end up quitting anyway, because it is just brutal.

If you have to ask a message board of random strangers, the answer is no.

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