Ask YC: What if your partners want you to let it go after 7 years?

[wasanbes]

I have been working on a website/service concept for over 7 years now. The work was unhurried until competition started emerging. I had to ask two friends to work on the project. But now, after we're almost half the way, they want to change the concept and switch to another startup. I admit that my project is very demanding and time consuming and that legally they own two third of it all,I am not sure I can let it go. What do you think I should do?

[babul]

7 years is a long time, especially in the world of the internet.

If it has not been successful by now, you really need to look at doing other things.

[olefoo]

7 years isn't necessarily too long to bring an idea to fruition. It's out towards the edge of the distribution for an internet startup, but it's perfectly reasonable for something complex.

[babul]

Maybe in the corporate world, but if you are small startup then surely not.

The world changes so rapidly and most of what small startups offer are solutions to a current need. If you are doing it as a hobby or for fun/learning/charity then that is different, but as a business (the purpose of a business is to make money, and startups are businesses ultimately) it is unfeasible. As a basic proof, try pitching to investors/VCs. Even friends/family would be reluctant to invest as a business.

[olefoo]

Not every startup is a web application built around a CRUD model, seven years is a short time for bringing a new medical device to market; and a long time for a novelty ice cream flavor.

Time to market is not always as crucial as it seems; photo.net was doing photo sharing and social networking ten years before flickr got bought by Yahoo!, it's more than possible to be too early to market.

You don't go to VC's during the R&D phase, you go to them once you've worked out the technology risk and have something that could be taken to market with a sufficient application of money.

It's a good thing that there are inventors with long attention spans because we would still be chasing wildlife for dinner if there weren't.

[babul]

Also in that amount of time, technology will have changed significantly brining new issues (e.g. the need mentioned to make it look "web 2.0") and opportunities (for them and for others).

Even without knowing the details and complexity of solution, I dare say unless the value is in core algorithm/architecture design that can be migrated, much of what they have done will be outdated (based on assumption the technology-stack/tools/learning/knowledge they use is now getting outdated).

[wasanbes]

You got it right. My idea isn't a simple twitter-like service. It was also important to make changes that make my service fit with the web 2.0 hype.

[babul]

Twitter is not simple service and faced many unique problems much discussed already here and on the web in general.

Also you should not be basing your offering on what the current hype is, but rather on filling a need and offering something people want and will use. When the hype fades, atleast then you will (hopefully) have something of value that will last beyond it.

[wasanbes]

What if the concept too good to abandon and I'm seeing something my partners don't?

[babul]

You really need to look at why they are changing the concept and wanting to switch to another startup.

If you are reluctant due to the time/effort already invested ("letting go" is a common problem), then perhaps what the others are suggesting is actually in your best interest(s) and doing you a favour.

[noodle]

i mean, unless they're going to be jerks about it, why can't you just keep a hold, or a copy, of the codestream to continue to work on your idea if they're jumping ship to change ideas and startups.

[ideas101]

there are many issues that you're facing now... but it may be simplified if dealt smartly and with all integrity ... first of all you took too long to implement/execute your idea - so now you're in trouble (internal and external).

anyway lets resolve the internal issue first. You need to find out what your partners really want, chances are they want/need something else than what it looks like from outside, find out what will motivate them to stay with your project?, also it is not clear whether they prefer to quit or they prefer to change the concept, may be they want to quit because you're not flexible enough to listen to them and change the concept - you need to really listen to them and think rationally (not emotionally) whether changing the concept will benefit all, try to create a win-win situation for all. last option is to let them go (because if they are not motivated enough then it won't produce the desired result) without burning the relationship, find the replacement at the earliest. If they are united and want to close the company then find out the legal way to hold on to the intellectual property at the minimum cost to you....

if they are your true friends then they should not give you hard-time in exploring either options. If you really love your project then you have to be very firm though in a polite way so that they can figure it out that you're really serious to pursue your ambition and nothing can change your route (with or without their help) - may be they will change their mind after seeing your determination.

[popat]

long story short, you need 4 things :

1. Determination: as pg always says that most successful people are those who're determined to bring their dream come true.

2. Code: somehow you have to manage to get the source code in your control. ,

3. Backup plan: make plan-b ready for damage control anticipated by your partners leaving project.

4. Speed: buddy, you need speed to roll-out to deal with competition.

[wasanbes]

1- Determination is what kept me moving all a long. I could've easily forgot about it, years ago. 2- This is what'll be trying to do. 3- They don't want to leave? What if they want to force a change? 4- I have my day job that I need to pay for my project.

[ideas101]

if they force for the change that you you disagree in totality then there is no other way then to quit and go on your own ... if you're busy with your day job then you need to find someone who is not that busy or who is available full-time for stock options

EDIT: somehow you have to make an agreement with your partners (if possible do it legally) that if they decide to quit or if your partnership is dissolved then IP (code) remains with you (because originally the idea was yours) and in the future they cant do something similar either, i dont know whether it is completely enforceable legally but i dont think if any company (say goolge or yahoo or MS) will let me pursue the idea on my own that was originally not mine - so in the same way you can have an agreement or contract with your partners too.