The Problems With My Startup

#1

Post by joe » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 2:45 AM UTC

I typed this up in order to collect my thoughts, in hopes of eventually showing them to my coworkers. I am totally open to questions, comments, and suggestions, especially from YC readers.

The Problems With My Startup
awmf.blogspot.com

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#2

Post by joe » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 2:45 AM UTC

I typed this up in order to collect my thoughts, in hopes of eventually showing them to my coworkers. I am totally open to questions, comments, and suggestions, especially from YC readers.

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#3

Post by greendestiny » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 3:15 AM UTC

joe wrote: post #2

I typed this up in order to collect my thoughts, in hopes of eventually showing them to my coworkers. I am totally open to questions, comments, and suggestions, especially from YC readers.

I appreciate the frank dissection of your startup part way through. Just a quick question, you had some guy do several months work for you and you didn't pay him anything?

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#4

Post by nostrademons » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 3:16 AM UTC

Stories like this, from startups that are still struggling, are very helpful. Are you full-time, or do you still have a day job? How about the others on your team?

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#5

Post by joe » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 3:18 AM UTC

greendestiny wrote: post #3

joe wrote: post #2

I typed this up in order to collect my thoughts, in hopes of eventually showing them to my coworkers. I am totally open to questions, comments, and suggestions, especially from YC readers.

I appreciate the frank dissection of your startup part way through. Just a quick question, you had some guy do several months work for you and you didn't pay him anything?

I should probably have been more clear about this--no one has ever received any type of salary. Our media production side of things has generated some money (unrelated to the startup) and that has allowed for us to be paid a little (i.e. $500 a month) here and there.

Thus my beef about venture capital.

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#6

Post by joe » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 3:19 AM UTC

nostrademons wrote: post #4

Stories like this, from startups that are still struggling, are very helpful. Are you full-time, or do you still have a day job? How about the others on your team?

I have a day job, for which I "telecommute", and sadly that's not working out too well. My day job folks just asked me if I would be willing to relocate, and I've been considering it. It would mean much more work from them, which would mean easier payment of bills, etc. I would be living near the job that pays me, not the other way around.

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#7

Post by greendestiny » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 3:26 AM UTC

joe wrote: post #5

greendestiny wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate the frank dissection of your startup part way through. Just a quick question, you had some guy do several months work for you and you didn't pay him anything?

I should probably have been more clear about this--no one has ever received any type of salary. Our media production side of things has generated some money (unrelated to the startup) and that has allowed for us to be paid a little (i.e. $500 a month) here and there. Thus my beef about venture capital.

But its your company, this guy you brought in got nothing. That kind of shit is very bad karma indeed.

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#8

Post by joe » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 3:35 AM UTC

greendestiny wrote: post #7

joe wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I should probably have been more clear about this--no one has ever received any type of salary. Our media production side of things has generated some money (unrelated to the startup) and that has allowed for us to be paid a little (i.e. $500 a month) here and there. Thus my beef about venture capital.

But its your company, this guy you brought in got nothing. That kind of shit is very bad karma indeed.

Agreed. In our defense, he was (is) a friend and got the same deal we all did when we agreed to work on it.

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#9

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 4:21 AM UTC

joe wrote: post #8

greendestiny wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But its your company, this guy you brought in got nothing. That kind of shit is very bad karma indeed.

Agreed. In our defense, he was (is) a friend and got the same deal we all did when we agreed to work on it.

[deleted]

Re: The Problems With My Startup

#10

Post by Jd » Thu, Sep 27, 2007, 4:55 AM UTC

joe wrote: post #2

I typed this up in order to collect my thoughts, in hopes of eventually showing them to my coworkers. I am totally open to questions, comments, and suggestions, especially from YC readers.

Although I am very interested to read your comments, I feel that it is disingenuous to put your name on a 'secret' blog. If you want to have a secret blog, make it secret. If you want to be open and honest with your co-workers, be open and honest w/ them. Half way in between strikes me as more likely to hurt than heal.

Unless what you are trying to do is get at your co-workers, in which case I think you will succeed.