Ask HN: Can startups get bought out without users?

[jetbeau]

My friend has a startup. It's a bill splitting app for share houses and they charge a fee for it.

Terrible idea IMO - people who live in share houses do it to save money not spend extra on a fancy calculator.

That aside, they have no users and aren't actively trying to get any.

He is trying to pursue someone to buy the app instead.

Am I crazy in thinking that it is pointless in doing what he is doing without any users or proven traction?