Ask HN: So I quit my job to focus on my startup...

You're fucked.

The first principle of negotiation is to always have a better option.

I'm the guy who quit with OP. In fact, his lead engineer (on paper). There's an interesting dynamic when two people quit at the same time. Game theory time!

We do have a fair amount of leverage when it comes to negotiating severance pay, due to our knowledge of distributed architecture.

But yes, we're committed 150% to the startup. And submitted our YC application a few days ago :)

I am surprised at the negative responses you've received in the last ten minutes of posting this, it is very much against the spirit of what usually occurs.

1) The book that I've seen mentioned the most often in the area of negotiation is not actually directly on that topic. It is just a general book on "getting it your way" - Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people".

2) I am in NYC, there are local python-nyc and ruby-nyc user groups, and they get a decent amount of traffic with people asking for help on various projects, a lot full-time, but occasionally a part-time gig offer comes up. Research the equivalent in your area.

If you have knowledge they need why not just offer to provide consulting services back to the company while they transition. This way you get to eat and they get a smoother transition.

So what is your startup?