Ask HN: I've had an idea for a company; my current employer wants me to build it
8 comments
Until now you didn't have the capability to do it. It's being given to you, paid, on a silver platter. I would personally take it, or otherwise stash it in an increasing bucket list of things that probably won't ever end up being realized. A lot of dreams are lost to inaction.
I read that luck is nothing more than taking opportunities. This sounds like one. The main thing would be to make sure your wants and needs are on a legal signed paper, so that even if you leave the company, you are a major part of this particular project and it's success even after you are gone, or at least compensated in an appropriate way should you choose to move on or whatever may happen. You referred to it as a separate division, so it would seem to be doable in a way that protects your intellectual property and input.
I read that luck is nothing more than taking opportunities. This sounds like one. The main thing would be to make sure your wants and needs are on a legal signed paper, so that even if you leave the company, you are a major part of this particular project and it's success even after you are gone, or at least compensated in an appropriate way should you choose to move on or whatever may happen. You referred to it as a separate division, so it would seem to be doable in a way that protects your intellectual property and input.
> I do not currently have the ability to not have a full time job
It sounds like you've had a stable job for a while already, yet you are not in a position to survive for a while without income. How will this be different in the next few years? When will you have such ability?
> I would be losing [...] a lot of the upside monetary benefit if this becomes successful
How much will you be losing if you never get to try? Or only get to do it when it is too late and others have already done it?
> [...] technology platform I and my team built
Building a technology platform and establishing a business are two very different things. Do you want to build a company or build the product you've been dreaming of? If you found a company (especially if you do it alone) most of your time and energy will be focused on the former, not on the latter.
If building this platform is the most exciting work you can think of doing and you don't see dropping everything right now to pursue that dream, my advise here would be to do it with this company.
Negotiate good incentives and convince yourself that you wouldn't have done it by yourself just like you haven't for the last few years you've been thinking about it. This way you will be able to focus all your energy on actually building the thing, and you will have a nice compensation if it pans out. If it doesn't, you will have at least tried and possibly dodged financial ruin in the process.
It sounds like you've had a stable job for a while already, yet you are not in a position to survive for a while without income. How will this be different in the next few years? When will you have such ability?
> I would be losing [...] a lot of the upside monetary benefit if this becomes successful
How much will you be losing if you never get to try? Or only get to do it when it is too late and others have already done it?
> [...] technology platform I and my team built
Building a technology platform and establishing a business are two very different things. Do you want to build a company or build the product you've been dreaming of? If you found a company (especially if you do it alone) most of your time and energy will be focused on the former, not on the latter.
If building this platform is the most exciting work you can think of doing and you don't see dropping everything right now to pursue that dream, my advise here would be to do it with this company.
Negotiate good incentives and convince yourself that you wouldn't have done it by yourself just like you haven't for the last few years you've been thinking about it. This way you will be able to focus all your energy on actually building the thing, and you will have a nice compensation if it pans out. If it doesn't, you will have at least tried and possibly dodged financial ruin in the process.
Knowing what you shared so far as a stranger, I would probably negotiate heavily with your company to give you some sort of ownership in this venture while they help you build/fund and hopefully market it. May be even get a lawyer who specializes in contracts, M&As and get their opinion if you can afford a few hundred bucks.
Best case scenario: The company creates a separate subsidiary for this project where you are an equity owner/director etc. in that company but overall it is owned (majority ?) by the parent company. However, they give you the freedom to work on it while they provide you the security and comforts of the current job. Win-Win for both. If you succeed in this venture, your parent company gets a big piece of it. If you fail, you hopefully still have your main job.
If you are serious and they are serious, get your own lawyer. Good luck!!
Best case scenario: The company creates a separate subsidiary for this project where you are an equity owner/director etc. in that company but overall it is owned (majority ?) by the parent company. However, they give you the freedom to work on it while they provide you the security and comforts of the current job. Win-Win for both. If you succeed in this venture, your parent company gets a big piece of it. If you fail, you hopefully still have your main job.
If you are serious and they are serious, get your own lawyer. Good luck!!
Seems like a great way to validate your idea on someone else's dime. If it works out you can consider what your options are at that point, including leaving and setting up a competing company. If it doesn't, you can analyze why and either make the case for trying again at your company, on your own or decide to let it go altogether. I don't really see any downside at this point.
You could ask for a success based incentive.
A similar thing is happening to me right now. Me and my Boss are setting up a seperate company with 50/50 equity to attempt the project. He's essentially investing in the company by way of paying me my regular salary as it's being built. If they're offering you no ownership potential it doesn't seem very fair..
Quit and try it yourself. Life is short, I would take the risk, if youre a good engineer, there is zero shortage of new jobs
I was nearly in the same position as you once but it never came to reality within the company. I never left and did it myself either. If I was in your shoes I would stay within the company and do it.
For a few years now I have been thinking about how I would like to build a platform to help other companies replicate this success by using some of the methods we used that are not prevalent in the market. But I do not currently have the ability to not have a full time job so have never acted on it. And I have never been closely connected with the start-up community to really be knowledgeable enough to be comfortable around the idea.
I started working for a new technology company in a tangential industry and they would like to fund the people and money for me to build this idea for them. I am sure that I would become an integral part of this new division and it would likely lead to decent bonuses and more money and promotions. It also fits in well with what this company already does.
But I feel like I would be losing this dream of mine and a lot of the upside monetary benefit if this becomes successful.
Does anyone have any thoughts or anecdotes or ideas or suggestions related to this situation?