[andix]

Was it at least a good deal for the founder?

I feel your pain about what happened. I've seen comparable things a few times first hand. My learning was: just leave once the change starts, only stay if you're getting something out of it. It's not my company, I'm only in charge of my life, I'll find something better soon.

I think I would not recommend to run once PE is mentioned, it can also change for the better, but it can be a red flag to look more closely.

[fnimick]

> Was it at least a good deal for the founder?

This doesn't make it any better for the, you know, entire rest of the company.

It's important to remember that this startup industry relies on selling dreams to idealistic young grads who will usually end up under the bus while the higher-ups walk away with the profit, if there is any. And a lot of us here are complicit, because we rely on cheap labor and false promises to get the next company off the ground.

Once you see your first exit where the CEO walks away with $10+ million and every single other employee's stock (even the first few engineers) was made worthless in backroom dealings, you get jaded about the way this entire business operates.

[andix]

For me a job is a job, my emotional attachment is limited. It can be awesome, but how the company changes is not in my power, if I don't own an substantial amount of equity.

Usually if a company fails, it happens in slow-motion. As an employee you can often spot that years before it makes the news. Just move on before it makes the news.

[twiddling]

It's strictly business. You keep your CV up to date and move on.

[BizarreByte]

Nah, I'm tired of this. It's not simply business, some of us actually give a damn and care.

PE fucks up everything most of the time, hurts the majority, and I hope I never encounter it again in my working career.

[SNosTrAnDbLe]

Thanks! It was a really sweet deal for the founder as he left as far as I know and I suspect for their direct reports as well.

Its been a while but it still brings out some bitterness. I did leave after an year but the damage had been done by then.

[JohnFen]

> My learning was: just leave once the change starts

As a customer, rather than an employee, that's what I learned too. If a PE firm buys a company that I do business with, the best thing for me to do is to stop doing business with them.