Title: Dear HN,<p>My co-founder (who is a close friend) and I have been working on a startup for about 1 year now. My co-founder had the "idea" for a startup. He needed a programmer, so we joined forces. His role is supposed to be design (though currently the application uses my design) and sales/business development/marketing.<p>The product is 99% complete and could be launched in a week. Unfortunately, we can't agree on partnership terms and ownership of the company. My co-founder wants 60% of the company and refuses to split the equity equally with me. My attempts at discussing/negotiating this with my co-founder only stir hostile, belittling responses from him.<p>I've often felt bullied and mistreated by this person, who treats me like a "resource" and bosses me around like a child. Though in certain stages of the project my co-founder has contributed significantly to mocking up the user-interface, we've gone through many iterations and, currently, 100% of the design AND code was created by me.<p>It's looking like we are about to go our separate ways, and my he is threatening legal action and asking me to sign an NDA.<p><i>He is not trying to take my work. He wants to start from scratch again by finding a co-founder or hiring a developer to build his idea.</i> The thing is, I'm still invested in my product. I don't want to ditch it.<p>I haven't signed anything up until now. I think my co-founder registered an LLC, but we've never agreed and signed any sort of partnership/ownership/nda agreement. What power do I have in this situation? Could I find a new non-technical co-founder and launch my product? As a last resort, I would even launch my product for free so my co-founder does not find another poor technical co-founder to abuse. I feel very cornered right now.<p>I've spent over 1200 hours designing and developing and have a very strong vision for the product.<p>What can I do?<p>Thanks in advance, HN. You guys are the best.<p><i></i>* ONE SUPER-IMPORTANT FACT I FORGOT TO MENTION <i></i>*
My co-founder does not have access to my code. I've suspected a partnership breakdown for awhile now, and since I haven't signed anything legal, I decided to make sure all of my work stayed out of my co-founders hands. I've never signed any agreement. I haven't been paid a penny.
Upvote: