At least you have one year experience. That's making your position stronger. Do they pay you a salary which helps you pay the bills. If so, Stay. Try to bring new idea's to change their looks on the product. The Startup way is not the easiest way but be creative and create somethng it works, solve problems. (djfashion777 ad gmail dot com)
Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
41–50 of 109 posts
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#42These people seem to focus on hitting the startup lottery and not on building a business.
And that is really, really being hard on you.
Would you buy stock in a business like the one you are working in?
If the answer is no, why are you still there?
PS. If you want to talk about it, just email me. Address in on profile.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#43With revenue you mean, after substracting your salaries or plain revenue like in "money getting in"? If in one year this only made 100$... Move on, fast. My (very) small blog makes more in a year, with far less work.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#44I've been in almost the exact same place before, although I didn't have a community to turn to for advice. Count yourself lucky or blessed, pal. Most of the replies you've received are the kind of advice I wish I would have received at the time - with the same quantity and consistency.
Then again, I wouldn't have listened. I was so certain that I was doing the right thing by "following my passion", when I was actually being a dumbkopf. Don't be like me - don't be a dumbkopf.
1.) A CTO that can't write code in an early stage start-up is not a CTO. Period. We had a UI/UX/UXYZ "expert" that couldn't write a single line of HTML... in an early stage startup? - fail.
2.) Using personal feelings to make business decisions are a red flag. It's funny that in the same paragraph you mention that they couldn't afford new talent. This sounds like a textbook case of somebody being taken advantage of. You are new to this business, they've sold you on their idea but they can't sell the dream to other folks. Doesn't sound good, my friend. Sounds like pimping.
3.) If your leaving means death for the company, then you ARE the company and should own a LOT of the company. Or should be paid market rates. If they can't/won't pay market rates, then you should be a co-founder. And you should own a LOT of the company.
4.) There will always be more opportunities. Being the next Zuck or Google is the same thing as winning the lottery. For the rest of us (back on planet earth), it's hard work and having good business sense. There are no secrets.
Best of luck to you! Keep everyone posted on what you decide.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#45Many have said it already, but you need to move on. You are wasting your precious time there. Don't worry too much about any tarnish; that doesn't even work for politicians and high spec founders (Groupon).
(I do find it weird you have a non technical CTO; industry veteran or not, his CTO badge is only a placeholder which is not good for a tech product company IMHO)
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#46> "and if I leave, the company will probably die off as I'm the only one writing code and making products exist"
Are you certain that the founders share the same sentiment? If you don't personally believe in the vision of the startup/idea then just leave. Don't stay there to be the guy that just writes code. They can get anyone to write the code. To make it easier on you: be a little selfish here (its okay!). Its a business, not social work.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#47Been there. Done that. Except I was stupid and wasted 6yrs of my life.
You woke up in a year. So get the hell out.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#48I'll be terse. You're 100% wasting your time. Leave yesterday.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#49Everybody keeps telling you that you ought to leave, but that advice isn't terribly helpful, since it is obvious that you already know you need to do that.
Often, many of the most difficult decisions in life are not what you should do - because deep down, you already know - but how do it. This is true for your decision right now.
A few thoughts for you on that:
1. Irrevocably commit to doing it. Book a meeting with the founders to discuss "something important". Or tell your significant other that you've decided to exit by a certain date. Just do something that commits you to this course of action.
2. Get creative about why you're leaving. Instead of leaving because the company is a sinking ship, think of a diplomatic, but still truthful, reason for exiting. For example, focus on what you are going to do next, and supply that as the reason: "I'm much more interested in working on this kind of technology/product/etc. and I want to go pursue my dream."
3. If you can't bring yourself to tell them your decision face-to-face, put it in writing. Email them to tell them what you've decided, and close it with, "Can we talk?" Then hash it out with them. This is a great way to be done with something (see #1) because once the email is sent, it's sent.
4. Always remember that it is never as bad as you think it will be. It's just business, they will understand your reasons if they are reasonable businesspeople too. If they're decent individuals you'll stay on good terms with them. They'll miss you, they'll be "disappointed", but they'll get over it. And don't be surprised if they've already expected you to do this months ago. It is usually obvious to employers when their employees are unhappy or frustrated.
You already know what to do. Now go get it done! Best of luck to you.
Re: Ask HN: losing faith in the startup where I'm employee #1
#50If the opposite were to happen: if they were unhappy with your performance, they would fire you and you would agree that it was the right thing to do. Quit.