| HN Mirror

I'm going to be a bit blunt here, as I think you've been avoiding seeing some things because you don't want to rock the boat. And also don't want to think that you've been played for four years. Replace the token [expletive] with your epithet of choice. I suggest one that starts with a vowel.

> about 20-25 full time people > Company is 4 years old

You're at a size where "startup pains" like not having money and working terrible hours should have long ended. With 10+ people, there should never be a late payment. Nor should any of you be paid significantly under your worth. And there should not be habitual late nights. Your boss certainly doesn't work them. And I doubt you get sufficient renumeration for them. You and your boss are justifying poor behavior because you want there to be an excuse. If you do run short on money, his current behavior shows that his absolute last priority is your wages.

> The CEO is less technical and more business. > There is no CFO, the CEO manages the finances.

He's not doing things this way because it's good for the company. He's doing it this way because he's a cheap, controlling [expletive] and doesn't want anyone else in control of the money. Even if there wasn't a CFO, he should have an accountant. A CEO should have a million more important things to do in order to foster revenue, sales and business potential other than personally handle the books. You have way too many people for one person to be an [expletive] and micromanage others while failing to do his own duty because he can't delegate properly.

> But there is a path to revenue.

This is not as hard a point to reach as you might think. You have fallen into the trap of thinking this business could reach critical mass while failing to notice that the person at the helm is selfish, greedy, controlling, and spiteful. Businesses that get super successful with a leader like that don't forever expand. They usually implode under the weight of managerial incompetence or social scandals caused by [expletive] leaders. If they're lucky, they get bought out before management has time to ruin it.

> The Series A

You've been going for four years and you still need VC to not collapse under your own weight? I'd get started on putting in place as many legal measures as possible to prevent the [expletive] boss from diluting my stock. I'd meet with co-workers on this to explain why it's important - it's a common trick pulled by startup jerks to avoid sharing the wealth and payout. And then I would tell him that he needs to fix his behavior or I'm gone in two weeks. That way everyone knows that he's the problem. Then I would probably leave anyway, because that sort of person will target you the minute you cross their authority line-of-sight.

> We (2 founders + me)

How are you not also a founder? You've been there since the beginning. The impression I get is that you do all the hard work and long hours and made the actual product while those two collect all the prestige. You should have stock that's approaching their individual shares, as well as a co-founder title. You were made an employee and yet you've had to work like an owner without the additional compensation. Could this company even exist without the work you did? If not, you basically have allowed them to shaft you from the beginning.

> Quit. But this would burn a lot of fingers/relationships and put the company in a spot since I'm pretty sure most things will break if I leave.

How is it your fault that they forced you to do the job of multiple employees? How is it your fault that they don't have dedicated staff to keep your hours down. You have 2 dozen people. You should be leading/managing people by now. If your boss was in your position, he would have leveraged this long ago for equal ownership and title. He would have taken the fact that the company would explode when he left and gotten what he deserved out of it. He wouldn't care about burnt bridges. You don't owe him anything. They have enough capital for a year. Tell him you want equal non-dilutable stock and a 40-hour work week or you walk in two weeks. There's not a thing he can do. If he makes threats, point out that you'd rather leave amicably, but you have plenty of grounds for a suit on labor conditions, as well as the ability to generate a lot of unfavorable press. Hell, talk with the VCs. They could probably direct you to another company that could give you what you're worth. And put in someone that can actually manage the company. They're providing money. They can do that.

You might not have noticed this, but your boss is an [expletive] MBA who takes everything for himself. He expects everyone else to act like [expletive] MBAs. In his book, those who don't demand their share are replaceable, and deserve what they agreed to. He doesn't think he owes you anything when you agreed to work for less to help "build" the company. Because he never would have done that. The only way you will be respected by him is if you demand what you're worth. If you don't, you're just another drone, to him.

He might be in charge at work, but if the way he acts is making you unhappy, make him fix it or leave. You have far more opportunities than you think.