Hire someone to sell and find something else for your co-founder to do. If you are at the stage here "sales are starting to come in", you are looking at possibly expanding soon anyway.
Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
61–70 of 72 posts
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#62"My co-founder sux. I met a friend, with whom I founded a company. He is the tech guy, I do the sales. Now he is "finished" with the service, but it isn't the quality we need and doesn't have the features our customers want. It's very tough to sell this beast. He always argues that those are the best features and won't implement what customers want as they do not know what they need. He's always comparing his work to…
Guess I should of been more clear. We are a marketing startup. We have contracts with businesses and our product is sold to consumers (average Joe). On the consumer end, everything is perfect. Sales are up and user base is doubling every 2 weeks. Mixed responsibility. (I do customer support, SEO, design, etc and we share marketing ideas) On the business end, we are still stuck with crappy deals: low margins, poor bra…
I've been in that situation, too. I got out of it by us selling the company.
You should get rid of your co-founder and step up to be CEO yourself and start looking for someone who will do good work. Your co-founder might not have the incentive like you do, so maybe he feels fine with being average. There is no way to change such a person.
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
> He needs to improve his skills, and that's teaching someone how to sell as well, but not from scratch. Or isn't it ? OK, I didn't realize you were from Netherlands until I read that sentence and clicked on your profile. In English, learning does not imply teaching.
Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though...
> Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though...
But you misinterpreted my use of it, so what's your point?
I see that I'm getting downmodded on top of having to waste my time on this, so that'll teach me how to help people with their English next time.
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though...
> Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though... But you misinterpreted my use of it, so what's your point? I see that I'm getting downmodded on top of having to waste my time on this, so that'll teach me how to help people with their English next time.
I think you're getting downmodded for implying jacquesm simply doesn't understand english enough to know the difference between learning and teaching. Pretty patronizing.
If you bothered to learn you would know that most Dutch people speak English, and that it's a required course in schools.
But that's OK I'm happy to teach you.
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
Guess I should of been more clear. We are a marketing startup. We have contracts with businesses and our product is sold to consumers (average Joe). On the consumer end, everything is perfect. Sales are up and user base is doubling every 2 weeks. Mixed responsibility. (I do customer support, SEO, design, etc and we share marketing ideas) On the business end, we are still stuck with crappy deals: low margins, poor bra…
The first information was that your partner did not perform to your expectation. At the same time I read that half year passed your have not been out at the customer front to see if your business model is viable. Just because comparing to a competitor does not mean your business is in the same situation. The low margins, poor brand is both of your responsibility and can have many reasons. As a startup founder you are…
Have you guys read Steve Blank's stuff on Customer Development Process?
If you are not making enough margin, then are you asking for more money? Why not? Maybe you are not delivering enough value. You have to show people how they will make lots of money before they'll give you any of theirs.
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#66Just assume for the moment, you had the money to buy him out: What would you do to become profitable? How long would it take? What ROI on your buyout sum would you get in say 3-5 years?
Got those answers? Great!
Why can't you implement those steps now? Really??
or
If your plan is so good, then find an angel to buy him out.
Please let us know how it pans out. Good Luck !
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#67If you plan to talk to him about it (you should ) then make sure you identify some specific examples of where you feel he is under performing - otherwise he could think your just finding excuses/passing blame for the sales not going well. Brainstorm (together if you like) ways to improve those areas. This question is asked here with some regularity - it's one of the most common issues in startups. The consensus is al…
> - offer to buy him/her out if you can afford it
Some people have shotgun clauses: Offer to buy him out, or be bought out at the same price.
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though...
> Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though... But you misinterpreted my use of it, so what's your point? I see that I'm getting downmodded on top of having to waste my time on this, so that'll teach me how to help people with their English next time.
[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
We have spoken on the sales issue repeatedly. He is currently suggesting that I too join sales and let the tech on a slow burner. Sadly I am not a start salesman, and even if I was. I don't want to be pulling the wagon all alone. Buying wise, we both are at the end of our savings, no one can afford to buy the other. And there currently doesn't seem to be any funds raising in sight.
A buy out doesn't have to be in cash. Look right now you have very little but likely some sweat equity and your product isn't really worth much. Offer him some shares or options in the future company but tell him this isn't working out. He'll say he already owns "half" but the truth is if you walk away he likely doesn't have a damn thing. Offer him some equity to walk away or tell him you're quitting.
Best advice on the thread.
Re: Ask HN: My co-founder sux. What can I do ?
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Ok. I never even used the word teach in the original piece though... But you misinterpreted my use of it, so what's your point? I see that I'm getting downmodded on top of having to waste my time on this, so that'll teach me how to help people with their English next time.
I think you're getting downmodded for implying jacquesm simply doesn't understand english enough to know the difference between learning and teaching. Pretty patronizing. If you bothered to learn you would know that most Dutch people speak English, and that it's a required course in schools. But that's OK I'm happy to teach you.
But in Dutch, "leren" means 'to teach' and 'to learn' (IIRC), so his presumption was at least a very logical one.