You should fire this person, and do the startup with the rest of them. If the other two are too weak to address the conflict, it's a very bad sign for the outcome. Probably don't need a lawyer if they aren't even full time yet. Hopefully you guys all had 4 year vesting terms so they don't actually keep 20% of common.
My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
11–20 of 65 posts
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#12Is this just about titles? Can you not be CTO and he can be Chief Product Officer or something that sounds better?
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#13There might be another way to look at it that could be really useful in this scenario. Rather than saying that you don't want it to happen, instead, ask yourself what changes would make it so that you would be okay with the change? For example, if the CUXO was willing to sign over half of his stake (10%) to you, would you be okay with him taking the CTO title? You could argue that giving him the CTO title will give him a future leg-up in career and earnings that you should be compensated as well. If the CUXO is not okay with that, than you have a good argument for keeping things the same.
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think that's basically the nuclear option that I really want to avoid. I think it would cause irreparable damage to the group especially at this moment where it's very possible the company is about to significantly increase in value. To be clear, I haven't had a talk with CUXO yet, so maybe I'll just explain my reasoning and he'll accept it. However, I don't feel like that's likely. It's hard to explain but I feel…
Unleashing your lawyer on him or the company would be the nuclear option, consulting one to know your options is fairly standard, if you don’t yet know how things could be (and I am assuming you don’t since you are asking on HN). There are a lots of people who will always try to push a bit at the margin for their own benefits, and when it happens you can either yield, push back or stand firm. From your post it seems…
I basically agree with this. Seek council, but do not weaponise it. Understand your (legal, moral, ethical) rights, and defend them.
Good luck.
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#15A good title to help further his career seems like a valid concern (even if the title itself may not be legitimate), but so are your concerns. You could put the burden of finding a solution on him? Share your concerns - that you did the bulk of back-end technical work, and feel that giving someone else the CTO title would devalue it. If he can find a way to get a better title (CTO or something else) without devaluing…
> A good title to help further his career seems like a valid concern
Not for the business.
Like others have said it’s at least the CEO’s role to work it out and if they said it’s not their problem then there are bigger concerns.
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#16I think no one has the answer to your question. Everyone doesn't really know your team's personality and how many people agree/happy with his decision.
How about we vote on this?
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#17Keeping good relationship and supporting partners >> Worrying so much about silly titles.
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#18[dead]
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#19Everyone should be “Co-CTO”
How about Co-CEO? Just go all the way. Chief Everything Officer.
Re: My startup crossed $2M/yr and now co-founder is going for a power grab
#20Is this just about titles? Can you not be CTO and he can be Chief Product Officer or something that sounds better?
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