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Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

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Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#11

Post by cocktailpeanuts »

naivedeveloper wrote: post #8
cocktailpeanuts wrote: post #6

It doesn't sound like you actually have a "company". Or do you? If you didn't incorporate yet, then you owe each other nothing. Maybe your friendship will end, but that's still separate from an actual business. Then again, I don't know if you yourself are that committed either. A month and a half off from work to prepare a speech means you're not fully committed. If this was because he's not doing much work either an…

Thanks for your reply. No, we do not have a company. We delayed incorporating to avoid expenses before the product was ready. Now that the product is close to being ready I'm fine with incorporating, but don't want to do so if my co-founder isn't invested. > Then again, I don't know if you yourself are that committed either. A month and a half off from work to prepare a speech means you're not fully committed. No, th…

If you really did make up your mind, I suggest you first talk to a lawyer about your potential decision.

Then when all things are clear from the legal side, first try to get this to work (if you still have any hope for this guy). Sit down with him and honestly talk about what you have in mind, and tell him you want to make this work. And make him commit to several things by certain time.

Or you could just tell him you want to split up. (Again, after talking to a lawyer).

You wrote 100% of your code and there was no legally binding document that transfers your ownership so I think it should be fine, but really really I suggest you talk to a lawyer if you are serious about this business. It's worth the money.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#12

Post by scandox »

When I was about 27 and had my own business I sat next to a billionaire at some charity dinner (in Ireland this can happen fairly easily - not because of the number of billionaires - which is low - but because of the tiny social scene).

Anyway he asked me about my business. Then he said: "Do you have a business partner?".

I said "Yes I do".

He said "Get rid of them".

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#13

Post by cookiecaper »

naivedeveloper wrote: post #10
jakobegger wrote: post #7

It sounds like you've already made up your mind -- now it's time to take action. Stop "alluding" to things. Don't expect people to read your thoughts. Tell your cofounder that you'd prefer to work on the idea on your own, and if he agrees, ask him to sign an agreement. If he's your friend, and if he doesn't care much about the project anyway, that shouldn't be an issue. If your friend doesn't want to agree to that, o…

Thanks for your reply. I haven't made up my mind. I'd much prefer to pursue this with someone else rather than on my own. But I can't make him be motivated. Aside from asking him what he's gotten done, what can I do? If anyone has suggestions here I'd be very grateful. All of your other advise is excellent. I think this is exactly what I should do, if it comes to that.

I suggest you work to understand his frame of mind and act accordingly. If he wants to make valuable contributions that you believe are needed but just needs his life to be reshuffled to make it happen, you should consider how you can help accommodate those changes.

If he truly is not interested anymore, guide your conversations in that direction without stating your intention to exclude him overtly. You want him to talk until he comes to his own realization that he shouldn't be involved anymore. That's the only way this will occur without his feeling that he was violently pushed out. You have to make this easy, and you have to make it feel like he made the choice, or at least made his own bed, not that you're cutting him off unfairly.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#15

Post by eplanit »

dragonwriter wrote: post #9
cocktailpeanuts wrote: post #6

It doesn't sound like you actually have a "company". Or do you? If you didn't incorporate yet, then you owe each other nothing. Maybe your friendship will end, but that's still separate from an actual business. Then again, I don't know if you yourself are that committed either. A month and a half off from work to prepare a speech means you're not fully committed. If this was because he's not doing much work either an…

> It doesn't sound like you actually have a "company". Or do you? > If you didn't incorporate yet, then you owe each other nothing. Anything that does business is a company (incorporation is needed to form a corporation, which is a specific kind of company; the term is often also used for forming a LLC, another particular kind of company); if two people have joined together with the intent of making a for-profit ente…

I know IANAL, but I don't think you are either:

"if two people have joined together with the intent of making a for-profit enterprise but with no formal agreement, it is a partnership."

No, it's not. What is "joined together....but with no formal agreement"? You can't take that to the bank, or to the court house.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#16

Post by smt88 »

sogen wrote: post #14

Get new website, pivot, forget about old website.

...unless that's something OP could be sued for. There's no way to know without reviewing the communications and agreements (either verbal or written) between the two founders.

Which, again, is why it's insane to try to get legal advice from internet strangers.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#17

Post by insulanian »

scandox wrote: post #12

When I was about 27 and had my own business I sat next to a billionaire at some charity dinner (in Ireland this can happen fairly easily - not because of the number of billionaires - which is low - but because of the tiny social scene). Anyway he asked me about my business. Then he said: "Do you have a business partner?". I said "Yes I do". He said "Get rid of them".

Agreed​ - business partner usually implies compromises.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#18

Post by rdli »

In any startup, it's crucial that founders have open lines of communication. There are a lot of decisions to be made, frequently under stress and with imperfect information, and you need to be able to communicate to figure things out.

So, I'd say that 1) you need to sit down with your co-founder and talk about things and 2) if this is going to be a long-term thing, you both need to spend a bunch of time upfront talking about your communication styles and commit to open lines of communication.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#19

Post by gtf21 »

scandox wrote: post #12

When I was about 27 and had my own business I sat next to a billionaire at some charity dinner (in Ireland this can happen fairly easily - not because of the number of billionaires - which is low - but because of the tiny social scene). Anyway he asked me about my business. Then he said: "Do you have a business partner?". I said "Yes I do". He said "Get rid of them".

What is this anecdote supposed to tell the OP? I can only assume that the intent is to imply a link between this man's advice and his wealth, but data isn't the plural of anecdote.

Re: Ask HN: How to get rid of a co-founder

#20

Post by gtf21 »

insulanian wrote: post #17
scandox wrote: post #12

When I was about 27 and had my own business I sat next to a billionaire at some charity dinner (in Ireland this can happen fairly easily - not because of the number of billionaires - which is low - but because of the tiny social scene). Anyway he asked me about my business. Then he said: "Do you have a business partner?". I said "Yes I do". He said "Get rid of them".

Agreed​ - business partner usually implies compromises.

Yeah and compromises/disagreements sometimes mean the difference between barking up the wrong tree and seeing the flaws in your own argument.
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