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Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

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Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#51

Post by greghinch »

cma wrote: post #43
greghinch wrote: post #9

This is why you have a board. And hopefully some decent legal documentation in place. Talk to them, lay out facts and the action you want to take, and just follow the documented process for things like board votes and such (again I hope you have legal docs in place, otherwise be prepared to get a lawyer and slog it out…). Sounds like you think the success of your company might depend on you getting rid of him, so jus…

Majority shareholders can't just vote to take away equity from minority holders. There are laws about minority shareholder rights. The OP better have some really specific agreements in place.

Well generally with more or less standard docs in place, the board can vote to remove the offending person from the company. And then it's just a matter of the vesting schedule as to the leaving person's remaining stake (this is why founders should have vesting). Not saying there won't be something of a legal battle, but certainly there's no special provisions necessary which you wouldn't expect in standard startup articles of incorporation.

Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#52

Post by [deleted] »

MediaSquirrel wrote: post #42

I was in a similar position with my first company, but waited too long because we were such close friends. I view failing to fire him as my biggest mistake/failing as CEO of my first co. If you want to talk, drop me a line here and we can hop on the phone. I have a strong opinion on this topic: http://mattmireles.com/contact/

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#53

Post by [deleted] »

mesogamer wrote: post #23
badclient wrote: post #4

If I talk with my boards on his misbehaviour it will get them stressed and stop believing on the company Sorry dude, looks like that is precisely what you are going to have to do. Don't worry about the board stressing; they can handle it. That's their job. Focus on YOUR job: the success of the company. The board will stop believing you when you prolong this longer than you should have, actually making the situation m…

Thanks for the advice. I might go with this one after holiday ends. The only problem I see here is that he has more rapport with them (since I'm more product oriented and he's money oriented). It's going to get real messy, especially since he holds all money, bank, passwords info (now I understand why he wanted to take control of those stuff in the beginning). Firing him will be so messy, and the 3 employees we have…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#54

Post by penguinlinux »

You are trying to throw your cofounder under the bus without going directly to him first? Tell him whats on your mind. At least you owe him that. At one point you picked him to be your cofounder and now maybe things are not working out, it might be his fault, maybe he is having issues or doesn't know he is not collaborating as much, but you owe him at least a direct conversation man to man. He will appreciate this more than being thrown under the bus.

again, I don't know the full details of your situation but there is two sides to a story. Whatever you end up doing won't be pretty but talking is and discussing things hombre a hombre is the best approach.

Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#55

Post by swombat »

I would certainly not take such drastic action based on pattern recognition built out of some HN article.

Would you file for divorce based on an HN article about overrated spouses?

As others have pointed out, it sounds like he does do a fair bit for this company but you're blind to it. The one trick he's clearly missed is getting to this level of distrust with his cofounder. For that, though, it is not clear that you should fire him. Maybe he should fire you...

Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#57

Post by secondincmd »

I was in a similar situation exactly two months ago. As others have stated here, COMMUNICATE with your cofounder. Express what you are thinking and how you view the situation. My cofounder didn't. He immediately tried to push me away from the company and eventually removed me 'without cause'. We are in a legal battle right now. Even to this day I still don't know what or why he did what he did.

Communication is key in any relationship. If you can't manup and talk to them, you are part of the problem.

If after you two talk and there is no movement, then seek out other alternatives. But always try to keep an open line of communication. Sometimes the alternative is way too costly.

Re: Ask HN: How to fire your co-founder?

#59

Post by raverbashing »

bushido wrote: post #41

I apologize in advance, but since nobody else seems to have taken the initiative I will opt for being the ass_ole in this situation. Before you go to the board (you ethically should) let ascertain a few things. Are you sure he's an overrate person or is it just that you don't see the value in his input? Some where in the thread you mentioned: > It's going to get real messy, especially since he holds all money, bank,…

This is important

If you want to (you should and must) get to the board and present your concerns, they are going to need those questions answered

It will only help your case

If your cofounder is as bad as I'm imagining, you should do your homework: get emails, recordings, etc which is strongly hinted by his threat (make sure you get him on that, record with your cell phone - hidden - or something)

But there's also a possibility things are merely like this: "some credit needs to go to an individual who has taken ownership for responsibility of finances, considering the amount of onus that falls on the need to maintain finances optimally for a start-up, this can also be really stressful."

You need to work a very clear and ironed out case for the Board. And remember, to them everything is still ok, and they hold him (and you) in consideration, so you'll have to work the case real slowly, be tolerant of their questions, as dumb as they are (it's a dumb question to you, not to them)

And talk to your lawyer, of course. And make sure he doesn't know about this.

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