ASk HN: second thoughts about joining startup - what to do?
I've hoping you can spread some light over the confusing that I'm experiencing right now.<p>For the past weeks, my friend and I have been discussing our new business venture. Actually, the idea is his and he has been planning it during the past years but it's only become serious during the last months.<p>I'm supposed to do the tech stuff for the company - coding, web sites, etc - but my understanding was that we both would be founders or atleast or equal partners. But my friend has other plans, it seems. Basically, he is about to be the sole founder and owner of the company. I can understand this to a certain degree; it's his idea and he's working full-time on the idea (I already have a job, so all my work is after my office hours). But I feel let down and hurt that he's decided to "demote" to an employee or contractor. Especially since I'm fully capable of discussing business ideas and development and actually discuss these matters frequently with him. What's worst, I've just signed a very general NDA that covers pretty much everything I'll do at the company and prohibits me from divulging information to other people. I felt forced to sign the NDA because I didn't want to let down a friend and because he insisted on it. In hindsight I realize this was incredibly stupid. Also, the NDA has made me really doubt my friend's trust in me and if I actually want to work with him.<p>I do want to make this startup work, but it feels that only a couple of weeks in, I'm in an inferior position and obviously more of an employee than a partner. Also, and this part is what I really hate, I've come to question my trust in my friend a bit because of the NDA.