Built $5M. Got 1%. Got let go • Hacker News Board

Re: Built $5M. Got 1%. Got let go

#11

Post by notrustincloud » Wed, Apr 08, 2026, 3:25 AM UTC

mhrnik wrote: post #3

byoung2 wrote: post #2

A founder came to you with just an idea and you went on to build it? You should have been a cofounder from the beginning.

I just took the project as a consulting project so I didn't expect much. And a founder was only looking for DEV!

It's unfortunate when self-declared founders think they just need a developer to 'embody' the product they dreamt up... it's also unfortunate when the dev who is the one capable of delivering a product lets themself be treated like a cog instead of acting as a driver.

It sounds like the CTO should have been hired as a tech trainer for the existing CTO == you.

I see it again and again in early enterprise. When a dreamholder feels underpowered at the real task of delivering product, thdy build layers of admin to lower the product delivery team, burn through CapEx and OpEx and label that 'growth' and eventually the % promise is worthless.

Production teams beware of founders who just need a dev and not a team of partners. Ego > Ability & Manipulation skill instead of leadership capability.

Re: Built $5M. Got 1%. Got let go

#12

Post by notrustincloud » Wed, Apr 08, 2026, 3:50 AM UTC

mhrnik wrote: post #10

zachlatta wrote: post #9

AI slop. Please see the Hacker News guidelines on writing with AI.

used AI to fix my English, sir!

I think at this point in time, imperfect but real is more acceptable to this crowd than machine translation pseudoprose.

Re: Built $5M. Got 1%. Got let go

#13

Post by mhrnik » Wed, Apr 08, 2026, 10:55 AM UTC

notrustincloud wrote: post #11

mhrnik wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just took the project as a consulting project so I didn't expect much. And a founder was only looking for DEV!

It's unfortunate when self-declared founders think they just need a developer to 'embody' the product they dreamt up... it's also unfortunate when the dev who is the one capable of delivering a product lets themself be treated like a cog instead of acting as a driver. It sounds like the CTO should have been hired as a tech trainer for the existing CTO == you. I see it again and again in early enterprise. When a dream…

Here, the CTO was forced by investor.

Re: Built $5M. Got 1%. Got let go

#14

Post by aminau » Wed, Apr 08, 2026, 1:17 PM UTC

wow, cant be more true: Building is only half the game, distribution decides survival Proximity to decision-makers matters more than you think

Also, How did you build for $5M+ , ARR or MRR. or worth. either ways, thats cool !! Best luck for further endeavour