New top story on Hacker News: Ask HN: Not feeling it from the CEO. What can I do? (equity split)
Ask HN: Not feeling it from the CEO. What can I do? (equity split)
5 by njens | 0 comments on Hacker News.
I joined a startup as CTO that is 9 months old (5 months with me) and has VC funding. I now have equal equity to the CEO. Now that I know how much I will continue to contribute that is core to my expertise & experience, I think I should have more like 3:2 or 2:1 (CTO:CEO), and that the CEO is really CMO/COO material. Is there something like an Equity-Split Consultancy I can use for help? The startup is complex VR software that I have 19 years experience in. I'm formerly a tenured academic leading a research group in this area. I've also worked on big-name projects as a SWEng in this area. I have won awards for my work and know the tech & product very well. I've also iterated similar "products" with customers. I have taught project management, founded a successful online business, a PhD in exactly what we are doing, and 10 years of building toward breaking away from uni to do this. So even though joining this startup seemed ideal, I'm finding that the CEO is out of his depth and I can't follow him. The startup has excellent potential, but relies heavily on new tech coming together meaningfully to meet the customers' needs. I have raised the issue and presented a strong case for change. In the subsequent meeting about it the CEO was aggressive, so I asked for a detailed response in writing. It's really taking the shine off of the journey. I'd love to do this with the CEO in a lesser role. I'm torn between; 1. suck it up and keep going, and 2. this is only going to hurt more and more so why empower them (it doesn't feel like this is mine enough to warrant the massive contribs I'm making to the vision and the product day to day). Part of why it doesn't feel like mine enough is that the vesting schedule means the massive contribs will only help me if I see it through. I've used http://ift.tt/2oPHNYo to get some numbers. Even when I over-state his measures, and under-state mine, I come out with 2:1 in my favor. Can this work out?
5 by njens | 0 comments on Hacker News.
I joined a startup as CTO that is 9 months old (5 months with me) and has VC funding. I now have equal equity to the CEO. Now that I know how much I will continue to contribute that is core to my expertise & experience, I think I should have more like 3:2 or 2:1 (CTO:CEO), and that the CEO is really CMO/COO material. Is there something like an Equity-Split Consultancy I can use for help? The startup is complex VR software that I have 19 years experience in. I'm formerly a tenured academic leading a research group in this area. I've also worked on big-name projects as a SWEng in this area. I have won awards for my work and know the tech & product very well. I've also iterated similar "products" with customers. I have taught project management, founded a successful online business, a PhD in exactly what we are doing, and 10 years of building toward breaking away from uni to do this. So even though joining this startup seemed ideal, I'm finding that the CEO is out of his depth and I can't follow him. The startup has excellent potential, but relies heavily on new tech coming together meaningfully to meet the customers' needs. I have raised the issue and presented a strong case for change. In the subsequent meeting about it the CEO was aggressive, so I asked for a detailed response in writing. It's really taking the shine off of the journey. I'd love to do this with the CEO in a lesser role. I'm torn between; 1. suck it up and keep going, and 2. this is only going to hurt more and more so why empower them (it doesn't feel like this is mine enough to warrant the massive contribs I'm making to the vision and the product day to day). Part of why it doesn't feel like mine enough is that the vesting schedule means the massive contribs will only help me if I see it through. I've used http://ift.tt/2oPHNYo to get some numbers. Even when I over-state his measures, and under-state mine, I come out with 2:1 in my favor. Can this work out?
