TwirlyDumpling
TwirlyDumpling

My co-founder is a genius coder and that's the fkn problem

I'm 23M. My friend, same age as me, is literally one of the most brilliant programmers I know - built his first app at 15 and won every hackathon in college. We started a SaaS startup 6 months ago that helps small businesses automate their inventory. Got a 500k seed round cause investors loved his tech demo.

But I'm losing my fucking mind dealing with him.

He codes like a genius when he wants to, but that's the problem - when he wants to. Won't show up till 2pm cause "he codes better at night". Won't push updates for weeks then drops massive changes at 3am that break everything. Our beta users are pissed cause features they need are sitting in his "almost done" list for months while he builds random shit that excites him.

I handle everything else - customer support, investor updates, sales calls, documentation, bug reports, and he still has the nerve to say I don't understand tech enough. His new gaming friends are over at our office all the time for "LAN parties" that last till morning while I'm trying to run a fucking company.

Don't get me wrong - when he actually sits down to code, he's incredible. Built our core product in 2 weeks. But now he's more interested in playing League of Legends and watching coding livestreams than fixing critical bugs. Says "real startups don't have fixed hours" whenever I bring it up.

I really need advice. We have a product that could be huge, users who actually want to pay us, but I'm watching it all slip away cause my co-founder would rather speedrun Elden Ring than talk to customers. I don't wanna lose a friend but my mental health is fucked from carrying this whole thing alone.

19d ago
App Promo
SquishyLlama
SquishyLlama
Acko19d

Find a better co-founder.

WigglyBoba
WigglyBoba

Lol straight to the point

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal

he got best co founder this guy need to talk to him for better understanding , he said he built a whole product there !!

WobblyBiscuit
WobblyBiscuit

These are my 2 cents:

  1. You both have complementary and exhaustive skills (+ that's a plus point for you guys as a company)
  2. Out of the two of you, he's the one who can handle tech better (perhaps even the 'whims' of the compiler when it refuses to run). Meanwhile you're the one who can handle people better (i.e. the whims of the clients, employees, or investors)
  3. Since things have escalated to the point that you have to make an anonymous post here, you need to take a judgement call. Is he a good enough friend to you? Can he be trusted?
  4. You should confront him in a 'non-accusatory' manner, not because it's professional and kind, but it is found to be the most efficient (I read that somewhere, unable to recall the source). If he says you don't "know tech", ask him nicely the things you genuinely think you should know about. No harm in learning while also de-escalating.
  5. From there, you can make up your mind whether this person is worthy of (in terms of skills and trustworthiness) spending time towards, so as to get him driven the same way as him. Try to drive him through things that he cares about. It could be the impact. It could be competitiveness (others have already made this product). It could even be money or fame. But at least try to speak to him in his own language for once. Clichéd as it may sound, try to read more about 'influencing people'.
  6. The reason why I think the above can be helpful is because a. If he gets convinced, you get back an amazingly skilled founder ; b. If he doesn't change, at least you refine your people skills that already seem to be your greatest assets and the split post that will not be hostile (hopefully no legal disputes for revenge later)
TwirlyNoodle
TwirlyNoodle

Really liked this reply.

The only thing I kinda disagree is that co-founders shouldn't be having to motivate each other to do the basic shiz like this.

It's funny and hilariously immature at the same time given the size of the company right now in this case.

TwirlyDumpling
TwirlyDumpling

Giving me a lot to introspect on - and a lot of hard questions, thank you.

I’ll be sure to revert here - need to structure my thoughts

BouncySushi
BouncySushi

From what I understand, he is a coder and not a great Software Engineer.. building 80% of system will take only 20% of the time and is generally not that difficult.. it’s the last 20% which takes hard work, proper engineering skills.. and looks like that is where he is stuck.. Make him understand or find different co-founder

SparklyBanana
SparklyBanana

Get a kick ass intern to show him he's slacking , I can recommend a colleague. Brilliant coder, doesn't game and coders are jealous when it comes to their craft. Show him a person who is half as good as him and gets shit done without being a diva about it

BouncyDonut
BouncyDonut

I need a software developer for my fintech startup in Gurgaon. Me and my cofounder are non-tech background and it really sucks when we have the customers ready but not the product. The current developer firm i am dealing with really sucks with their speed and dumbness.

QuirkyNugget
QuirkyNugget

As a founder myself, who fired the technical co-founder, here's my take.

  1. As you've mentioned, he is an amazing coder: Losing him just like that will affect the product development and investor/customer confidence.

  2. Whether the co-founder is a friend: If yes, confront him on a serious note, only if he's a friend you can be comfortable losing.

  3. If no, to the above point: Try adjusting the work and general workflow for the team to accommodate his night work while you handle the day time tasks and testing during the day.

  4. You have product that people are ready to pay for: The fact that people are ready to pay for your product means you might actually be solving a valid problem and creating value. First rule of biz, without customers the startup is worthless.

  5. The outside push: Try conveying whatever you wrote here, though an investor/stakeholder.

Till you figure out the jugaad, make sure he doesn't leave. From what you've written, he's the perfect resource for a high-growth startup with deep pockets.

JumpyWaffle
JumpyWaffle

Woah thanks so much for sharing sire

TwirlyDumpling
TwirlyDumpling

Wow, DMing you if you don’t mind

GoofyPanda
GoofyPanda

Hire engineers who can work on pipelines/planned features and let the genius work on new ideas.

GigglyDumpling
GigglyDumpling

He is artist. Not engineer. Mostly he won't like to be engineer.

Coding is like writing a book, there will be writer's block. You need to separate tasks into engineering and arts, to get things moving.

He may not know this, but if you understand this his life will be easy, & yours too..

PeppyWaffle
PeppyWaffle

You guys are 23
I also had same issue with my coding skills few years ago and I realise that i need to learn a lot’s of things
But you need to understand that to build a tech you need a software engineer not a coder

You can solve this issue by having a accountability to other

Try to implement a scrum model

  1. What went well

  2. What didn’t went well

  3. What needs to improve ( this is fucking important)

Keep track of it, this brings some sort of discipline

The day when what went well are more than rest of two you will feel good

If he is not listening you bring /hire another guy who holds accountability for both of you (btw that’s how concept of middleman came :) )

Trust me discipline and consistency is much important that anything

Also there is a difference in consistency and flexibility. Working 2 hours daily is much better than working 20 hours 2 days in a week

SquishyMuffin
SquishyMuffin

I think he would be reading this post (very specific details mentioned) , he will get back to you with better terms .

TwirlyDumpling
TwirlyDumpling

Nothing new here that he already doesn’t know of - that’s the sad part

BouncyNoodle
BouncyNoodle

Yes need a good co founder who scale your business connect with me I am available to give time for your business

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