Posting this for a friend who is CEO of a startup, but wishes to remain anonymousThe past few weeks, I've been demotivated. Our product is done and we're ready to launch, but there's a bigger problem, I'm just not passionate anymore. The current cons:
a) My cofounder doesn't have it. He's not tech savy at all, doesn't contribute the way he should, and has turned everything into a two person bureaucracy. Just not a motivating person to work with. He also hasn't made any real sacrifices. I've left school, moved across the country, and a lot more for our startup.
b) It's been close to two years of work, and not a whole lot of momentum. We've bootstrapped the entire time, with a small amount from a customer. Bad part is, we don't have any money left for new development. I've handled a good portion of the tech issues, except for the core programming of the app: interface design, database design, sys admin/config, some bug fixing,etc. Think of it more as a CTO role, than a lead dev role. At the end of the day it's still 2 of us, that's a troubling sign. I'm a pretty motivating person, and the fact no one else has really shown interest in helping out or getting involved is scary.
c) I'm not overly familiar with how to run an enterprise/business software company. I've done consumer tech, this isn't my first venture, and I know enough (and yet have a shitload to learn). Consumer web companies seem much more straight forward to me. Business web apps are a different beast to launch.
d) this isn't a question of lack of traction, is it a good company, good product, etc. maybe this is the scary part: the product is awesome, the market were going after is a good one, and there's a lot of opportunity. the problem lies more with the co-founder and the overall energy/excitement of the company.
So my question is:
a) Do I bail out and start something else/ join something else that is in its really early stages?
b) Is there a way to get motivated again/fix these problems?
Many thanks in advance.
a) See it through the launch. Send your post to your co-founder. Try an forget about "effort" and "sacrifice". Is he adding value at all? Is he going to once you launch (i.e. sales or something?).
b) This sounds to me like a theory/reality problem. I love thinking up ideas and plans. I hate when they get all messy when I try and bring them into the real world. It sounds like you might be interested in the "new development" work and have tired of your less-than-perfect implementation. Once you launch, is there a chance you'll get more funding, another customer to help with funding or anything?
Also, you might try and separate your feelings about the work and the actual changes of the business. Just because you hate it now doesn't mean it won't be successful (not that I'm advising you to do something you hate...).