When a co-founder dies • Hacker News Board

Re: When a co-founder dies

#11

Post by anonforthis1233 » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 3:23 PM UTC

Not wishing to be indelicate but ....

Another problem you might face is any relatives of Greg. With no corporates structure - or even one that just says 50:50 you may see wives/parents/cousins convinced that all startups are going to be ebay looking for their billions. Remember the saying: you only choose a spouse - you don't get to choose their family.

You may find you spend another few years working on your own to make this idea a success and then lose it all to the legal fees defending against multiple claims of who owns the other half.

It might be a good idea to make a break and restart the idea with just you.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#12

Post by fsniper » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 3:24 PM UTC

My condolences. Must be hard for you. Every line of code you write, every business decision you make will remind you Greg from now on.

If I were you, I would name something on your business after him.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#13

Post by revorad » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 3:29 PM UTC

Sorry to hear that. I didn't know your friend, but reading your post I felt the sorrow in my gut. I hope you will cope and help other friends and family cope too.

Peace.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#14

Post by ttol » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 3:45 PM UTC

My condolences for your loss. It must be hard.

My partner and I recently thought about this scenario for us and decided that one way to ensure business continuity is to have a key man insurance for each other. We took out the policies a little while ago on top of other insurances.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#15

Post by vaksel » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 3:56 PM UTC

anonforthis1233 wrote: post #11

Not wishing to be indelicate but .... Another problem you might face is any relatives of Greg. With no corporates structure - or even one that just says 50:50 you may see wives/parents/cousins convinced that all startups are going to be ebay looking for their billions. Remember the saying: you only choose a spouse - you don't get to choose their family. You may find you spend another few years working on your own to…

yeah that's a very good point, if he continues and succeeds, he'll end up being in court all the time fighting claims that the site would have been a huge failure without the other code.

hell you'll most likely be blamed for the death during the trial. ex: you tinkered with the car in order to kill him, to get him out of the company

Re: When a co-founder dies

#16

Post by dpcan » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 4:06 PM UTC

It's hard to be the first to say "I will go on" because there will be someone who will say "how could you?"

When everyone comes together in a wake and pledges to go on AND to help each other, then moving forward is a powerful, bonding, and relationship building exercise that your lost friend would be proud of.

My condolences as well, you are a gifted blogger and I do hope you are able to continue.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#17

Post by _pius » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 4:08 PM UTC

My condolences.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#18

Post by tectonic » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 4:09 PM UTC

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#19

Post by _pius » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 4:10 PM UTC

anonforthis1233 wrote: post #11

Not wishing to be indelicate but .... Another problem you might face is any relatives of Greg. With no corporates structure - or even one that just says 50:50 you may see wives/parents/cousins convinced that all startups are going to be ebay looking for their billions. Remember the saying: you only choose a spouse - you don't get to choose their family. You may find you spend another few years working on your own to…

It might be a good idea to make a break and restart the idea with just you.

That's not ethical. Whatever equity Greg had belongs to his estate.

Re: When a co-founder dies

#20

Post by chaostheory » Fri, Sep 25, 2009, 4:13 PM UTC

Sorry for your loss... I'm glad it sounds like you're trudging on

It's rumored that this was something Gates and Co nearly had to deal with:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2006/pulpit_20060330_0008...

It would be great if there was a fair way for all living parties to deal with this issue.