Ask HN: How to deal with co-founder betrayal

Depending on the maturity of the company, there are a few different bits of value. Some you can take with you - your product vision - and now build in a linear path towards what brings value. Some things (IP) you won't be able to. But the real value in a company is the existing customers and PMF - if the company is still relatively young, the value you have moving forward is significant.

So just build yourself back up and move on. Try not to hold hate in your heart, it will only set you back. Take care of your mental health, be kind to yourself, and figure out what you would be doing next without worrying about what they're doing - that is for your attorney to handle.

To be clear, I'm not saying that's right or true. But assuming that's their position, does it change anything about your negotiation strategy?

FWIW, we had not yet found product-market fit and my business partner apparently was not able to replace me adequately. So, the company completely lost velocity for over a year, essentially the death knell for a startup.

The two questions to ask yourself are: 1. What’s the chance this startup fails? Most startups fail, even those with big contracts. 2. Is this the last idea you’ll have? If yes fight hard to stay involved. If no, have the lawyer negotiate a sale for more than 140k and use that plus all the lessons learned to do a new idea better.

Six years ago I finished the year with depression because a betrayal from my associate when we started our dream company.

Really, try to learn something and if not, try to remember that not all people are like them.

It took me 6 years to be able to face again people that worked with us because that betrayal feeling.

Run Away Now