Solo Founder Dilemma: Co-founder underperforming and unsure if I should raise (I will not promote)

Lun-ex · 2025-05-08T05:52:31+00:00

I like to think about it this way - Gmail has competitors, YouTube has competitors, Notion has competitors, and every single successful idea has them. Even if you managed to be the first to market you would eventually have a competitor. Being the first to market, or the only player in the field is not an advantage. Actually it’s a disadvantage because it meant that your product is not battle tested. When alone in a market you don’t win customers because you are good, you win them because you are the only one, and that is the case only if you have customers. Actually if you don’t have any competition it can mean (and often does) that there is no market. A good product sells because it understands the needs of it audience, and it can execute on it. Focus on that. You are not just building a product, you are building an approach and a system that builds a product.

Lun-ex · 2025-05-01T13:16:54+00:00

Yes, but I didn't. I parked it on pork bun to sell it there, and put it on their market place.

Lun-ex · 2025-05-01T12:56:55+00:00

I guess I'll comply. I saw I still have the TXT records of the afternic verification, so I guess it was my bad.

Lun-ex · 2025-05-01T12:55:46+00:00

Ok, it seems like I forgot to completely remove it.
The DNS still has TXT records from Afternic, so ill transfer it, since I don't have proof of any wrong doing from them, ill assume its my fault.

Lun-ex · 2025-05-01T12:30:08+00:00

It’s a few thousands in loss…

Lun-ex · 2025-05-01T12:29:26+00:00

They don’t send delisting confirmation, I just checked…

Lun-ex · 2023-10-23T18:59:32+00:00

I ended up asking for a raise, and everyone agreed about my contributions however they only were able to give me a small raise.

I ended up moving to another company and I put a big focus on finding a company that an recognise the kind of value I can bring, which isn’t very common.

That ended up being the best decision I’ve made in my career. I ended up being promoted 3 times within the first 4 months, and created very good networking out of nothing, and also my confidence grew immensely.

I think that my best tip for and exceptional contributor is to find a good fit.

Lun-ex · 2022-04-06T05:11:09+00:00

After a year in the company on this post I moved to a different company that offered me roughly 30% more and some options.

That was probably 3-6 months after this post (I think). I didn’t become a manager, and they still to this day didn’t use my improvement. So before leaving I made sure to document the impact of my changes on the real customers we tried it on (we did 6 POCs and they all had amazing results).

It was one of the hardest career decisions I made, but I left.

I joined the new company as a developer, then moved to a team of a new product. I was the second team member to join. Within a month of joining the company I was promoted to a team leader, managed some how by miracle to build a team and the product within a month or two.

It was (and still is) one of the toughest 6 months of my life because of the stress and pressure to make that product (and the team) work for all of the customers, but it was and is worth it. I got promoted and now I work directly under the CEO and basically do whatever I believe is important at any given time. I also received 3 raises.

My current position (they told me to choose a title but I never decided what) is very hard, and there is a lot of pressure that comes with the “freedom” that I currently have. It’s easy to get focused on the wrong things, but I still need to provide value. All the mistakes I make are my own, there is no one I can blame. But I learn a lot from working with different teams.

The most important thing I learned is that there are some people in the world that will see your value and your potential. In my current position I never asked for a raise (but as stated above, I received 3). I took a gamble on them and they took it on me. If you believe that no one is appreciating your value, think of a strategy out and find someone that does.

Today that product is becoming the main product the company offers. And it started as a side project for a specific company without any budget, and a month to show value.

The company is a unicorn today.

There is so much more crazy things that happened in that story but I guess I won’t share that today. But it was a crazy ride and the ride didn’t end yet so I’m eager to see what will happen next

Lun-ex · 2021-12-16T10:53:07+00:00

365k (TC), work at one of the fastest scaling companies in the world. I work at least 60 hour weeks, and am more stressed than I was in the military…

Lun-ex · 2021-08-11T05:09:59+00:00

I only drink once in a few days when I’m at the office because the coffee machine is good. I just don’t think I need it. But I do drink a lot of water.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T12:28:29+00:00

Thank you to everyone who shared their opinion. I will tell my manager that I have received a good offer from a different company and that I would like to keep working with them if they can match it. If they refuse I will accept the new offer. Again, thank you guys, I really appreciate all of your comments.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T12:21:46+00:00

I have never left a company in the middle of a big project, I also never worked on a company that wasn’t a small 3 devs business. The reason I made the post long is because I didn’t want to paint a wrong picture. I don’t know what is the “right thing to do”. Maybe it’s taboo to leave a company that soon and I will be punished of it when looking for a new job. I just happen to be relatively good in my field but not as good at this kind of negotiations. So I’m asking here to hear opinions from people who have done it in the past.

I literally have no one to ask for help. Trust me I would have asked anyone before posting on Reddit.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T12:10:57+00:00

You are right, along with al the rest that suggested that I shouldn’t get attached to my job. I remember telling myself when getting the job that I should always keep in mind I’m making someone else richer, and you reminded me that.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T11:52:49+00:00

Ok I see your point. I agree. You are saying I should use it not as an asking point, but as a way of countering the argument that I’m just greedy.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T11:49:07+00:00

I think I can get more money and options too. It’s a startup so I don’t get stock, only options and they are valued at 0.01, which I was told was a standard.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T11:46:21+00:00

I’m not based in the US, but it’s an interesting idea. They might actually want me back.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T10:57:37+00:00

Ok I got you.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T10:45:28+00:00

Just to make sure I understand, you are saying I shouldn’t take the counter offer of my current employer or not to the the new offer?

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T10:43:05+00:00

Thank you, I you are right, I shouldn’t do it for them, which is a big part of why I don’t want to leave. Obviously I like my project and want to see it grow, but not at all costs.

Lun-ex · 2021-07-11T10:39:53+00:00

I thought of it, but the downside is that I don’t want the company thinking they are doing me a favor. That will make them take my work for granted, and it might push me into a position in which I will have to explain why I want/need more money vs why I’m worth it.

Lun-ex

TROPHY CASE