what's a tactful way to quit a startup?

[Koing]

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

not 5 college buddies... from what I understand, two are doctors, one is a stock broker, and two are college graduates with no jobs and nothing better to do except part-time jobs somewhere else

No formal customer, but we write medical billing software.

I have no idea what the other guys do. So far, I have done about 1 hour's worth of work on this company. One of the college grads with nothing to do is doing all of my work since I have no VB experience. I let people know up front that I have no VB experience and I won't be available for an entire summer, but they still wanted my computer experience for some reason

sending e-mail now

WTF?

So why are they in the company? Do they provide funding? Whos paying whos salary? This 'company' sounds really slack imo and just really half assed. If it takes off then well fair play to you guys! Sounds like it is going to tank badly if you just have one developer and 2 college guys doing some VG stuff. Well unless the two college guys are spectacular or you better be doing something that no one has or has seized the opportunity to do!

Just meet them face to face and tell them.

Koing

 

[Rubycon]

HiJack This!

 

[HardTech]

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

not 5 college buddies... from what I understand, two are doctors, one is a stock broker, and two are college graduates with no jobs and nothing better to do except part-time jobs somewhere else

No formal customer, but we write medical billing software.

I have no idea what the other guys do. So far, I have done about 1 hour's worth of work on this company. One of the college grads with nothing to do is doing all of my work since I have no VB experience. I let people know up front that I have no VB experience and I won't be available for an entire summer, but they still wanted my computer experience for some reason

sending e-mail now

WTF?

So why are they in the company? Do they provide funding? Whos paying whos salary? This 'company' sounds really slack imo and just really half assed. If it takes off then well fair play to you guys! Sounds like it is going to tank badly if you just have one developer and 2 college guys doing some VG stuff. Well unless the two college guys are spectacular or you better be doing something that no one has or has seized the opportunity to do!

Just meet them face to face and tell them.

Koing

Don't ask me, dude. For funding, we met with a VC and got a couple thousand in funding (I don't recall the numbers since I wasn't at the meeting). There is no salary, and I got 10% ownership of the company. How much that is worth is anyone's guess, but it's probably not enough to buy the monitor you're using to view these posts.

I just sent the head guy an e-mail. We'll see what he says.

As for writing commercial software in VB, what is most commercial software written in? C++?

 

[benliong]

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

not 5 college buddies... from what I understand, two are doctors, one is a stock broker, and two are college graduates with no jobs and nothing better to do except part-time jobs somewhere else

No formal customer, but we write medical billing software.

I have no idea what the other guys do. So far, I have done about 1 hour's worth of work on this company. One of the college grads with nothing to do is doing all of my work since I have no VB experience. I let people know up front that I have no VB experience and I won't be available for an entire summer, but they still wanted my computer experience for some reason

sending e-mail now

WTF?

So why are they in the company? Do they provide funding? Whos paying whos salary? This 'company' sounds really slack imo and just really half assed. If it takes off then well fair play to you guys! Sounds like it is going to tank badly if you just have one developer and 2 college guys doing some VG stuff. Well unless the two college guys are spectacular or you better be doing something that no one has or has seized the opportunity to do!

Just meet them face to face and tell them.

Koing

Don't ask me, dude. For funding, we met with a VC and got a couple thousand in funding (I don't recall the numbers since I wasn't at the meeting). There is no salary, and I got 10% ownership of the company. How much that is worth is anyone's guess, but it's probably not enough to buy the monitor you're using to view these posts.

I just sent the head guy an e-mail. We'll see what he says.

As for writing commercial software in VB, what is most commercial software written in? C++?

This is actually the first time I head of VC giving just a few thousands. But then I'm not in the startup / VC business so what do I know.

Most Commercial Software are written in some kind of C++, usually Visual C++ or .net nowadays. There's nothing really wrong with writting it in VB except that you lose a lot of flexibility. Given that it's a billing system for hospitals and all, it'll get really complicated really fast.

To outsource software this early in the stage of a startup sounds like a bad idea to me though. And I wonder why they insists on having VB as the development tool even though you as the guy with computer experience in the company do not have experties in that particular area.

I always try to quit in person or at least call.

 

[HardTech]

This is actually the first time I head of VC giving just a few thousands. But then I'm not in the startup / VC business so what do I know.

Most Commercial Software are written in some kind of C++, usually Visual C++ or .net nowadays. There's nothing really wrong with writting it in VB except that you lose a lot of flexibility. Given that it's a billing system for hospitals and all, it'll get really complicated really fast.

To outsource software this early in the stage of a startup sounds like a bad idea to me though. And I wonder why they insists on having VB as the development tool even though you as the guy with computer experience in the company do not have experties in that particular area.

I always try to quit in person or at least call.

We had a business plan we wrote up, and the main guy was pretty motivated so I'm sure it wasn't a problem to get funding.

As a partner, I didn't like how little my opinion mattered. One of the guys was giving us his other business card for a limosine company, telling us if we ever needed a limo, to call him..... kinda shady

 

[SilentZero]

Hang in there and don't do anything until its successful then take a buy out FTW!

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: HardTech

This is actually the first time I head of VC giving just a few thousands. But then I'm not in the startup / VC business so what do I know.

Most Commercial Software are written in some kind of C++, usually Visual C++ or .net nowadays. There's nothing really wrong with writting it in VB except that you lose a lot of flexibility. Given that it's a billing system for hospitals and all, it'll get really complicated really fast.

To outsource software this early in the stage of a startup sounds like a bad idea to me though. And I wonder why they insists on having VB as the development tool even though you as the guy with computer experience in the company do not have experties in that particular area.

I always try to quit in person or at least call.

We had a business plan we wrote up, and the main guy was pretty motivated so I'm sure it wasn't a problem to get funding.

As a partner, I didn't like how little my opinion mattered. One of the guys was giving us his other business card for a limosine company, telling us if we ever needed a limo, to call him..... kinda shady

Your company is actually making bookkeeping software for the mob! :Q

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

not 5 college buddies... from what I understand, two are doctors, one is a stock broker, and two are college graduates with no jobs and nothing better to do except part-time jobs somewhere else

No formal customer, but we write medical billing software.

I have no idea what the other guys do. So far, I have done about 1 hour's worth of work on this company. One of the college grads with nothing to do is doing all of my work since I have no VB experience. I let people know up front that I have no VB experience and I won't be available for an entire summer, but they still wanted my computer experience for some reason

sending e-mail now

WTF?

So why are they in the company? Do they provide funding? Whos paying whos salary? This 'company' sounds really slack imo and just really half assed. If it takes off then well fair play to you guys! Sounds like it is going to tank badly if you just have one developer and 2 college guys doing some VG stuff. Well unless the two college guys are spectacular or you better be doing something that no one has or has seized the opportunity to do!

Just meet them face to face and tell them.

Koing

Don't ask me, dude. For funding, we met with a VC and got a couple thousand in funding (I don't recall the numbers since I wasn't at the meeting). There is no salary, and I got 10% ownership of the company. How much that is worth is anyone's guess, but it's probably not enough to buy the monitor you're using to view these posts.

I just sent the head guy an e-mail. We'll see what he says.

As for writing commercial software in VB, what is most commercial software written in? C++?

C++

My monitors aren't cheap 😛. £2.8k ~ $4.76k worth of monitors! 23" Sony LCD and the Dell 24" LCD :thumbsup:

Koing

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: HardTech
my role: application development liaison... we contracted the coding to India and it's my duty to make sure he's coding well :shocked: ... in a language I don't understand


all this while I'm in a masters program. Having no time is an understatement, as well as no real interest and commitment.

But, but, but . . . the pr0n industry NEEDS new pop-ups! :laugh:

 

[hx009]

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

not 5 college buddies... from what I understand, two are doctors, one is a stock broker, and two are college graduates with no jobs and nothing better to do except part-time jobs somewhere else

No formal customer, but we write medical billing software.

I have no idea what the other guys do. So far, I have done about 1 hour's worth of work on this company. One of the college grads with nothing to do is doing all of my work since I have no VB experience. I let people know up front that I have no VB experience and I won't be available for an entire summer, but they still wanted my computer experience for some reason

sending e-mail now

WTF?

So why are they in the company? Do they provide funding? Whos paying whos salary? This 'company' sounds really slack imo and just really half assed. If it takes off then well fair play to you guys! Sounds like it is going to tank badly if you just have one developer and 2 college guys doing some VG stuff. Well unless the two college guys are spectacular or you better be doing something that no one has or has seized the opportunity to do!

Just meet them face to face and tell them.

Koing

Don't ask me, dude. For funding, we met with a VC and got a couple thousand in funding (I don't recall the numbers since I wasn't at the meeting). There is no salary, and I got 10% ownership of the company. How much that is worth is anyone's guess, but it's probably not enough to buy the monitor you're using to view these posts.

I just sent the head guy an e-mail. We'll see what he says.

As for writing commercial software in VB, what is most commercial software written in? C++?

Wait... they brought you onboard because of your "computer experience" but yet you're in this thread asking what languages most commercial software is written in? And at the end of the day you wound up using *VB*??? Exactly what is your area of expertise that they so badly needed you for when you can't handle such a basic and fundamental piece of software development?

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

Yeah, that's what I was going to say. If you're outsourcing to India already, that's a pretty good sign that nobody knows WTF is going on.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: hx009
Wait... they brought you onboard because of your "computer experience" but yet you're in this thread asking what languages most commercial software is written in? And at the end of the day you wound up using *VB*??? Exactly what is your area of expertise that they so badly needed you for when you can't handle such a basic and fundamental piece of software development?

Indeed. The OP is also doing a Masters in something.

Koing

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Your writing commercial software in VB?

:tiptoes out of the thread:

I worked for a man a few years ago that writes medical billing and lab software in VB and powerbuilder. It looks sloppy to me but he's a millionaire from it so he's found a way to make it sell....

 

[AaronB]

What this thread reminds me of:


[Scene Initech. Bob Slydell and Bob Porter are interviewing Tom.]

BOB SLYDELL
So what you do is you take the specifications from the customers and
you bring them down to the software engineers?

TOM
That, that's right.

BOB PORTER
Well, then I gotta ask, then why can't the customers just take the
specifications directly to the software people, huh?

TOM
Well, uh, uh, uh, because, uh, engineers are not good at dealing with
customers.

BOB SLYDELL
You physically take the specs from the customer?

TOM
Well, no, my, my secretary does that, or, or the fax.

BOB SLYDELL
Ah.

BOB PORTER
Then you must physically bring them to the software people.

TOM
Well...no. Yeah, I mean, sometimes.

BOB SLYDELL
Well, what would you say? you do here?

TOM
Well, look, I already told you. I deal with the goddamn customers so
the engineers don't have to!! I have people skills!! I am good at
dealing with people!!! Can't you understand that?!? WHAT THE HELL IS
WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!!!!!!!

 

[HardTech]

Originally posted by: hx009

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: HardTech

Originally posted by: mugs
Can you help me understand what's going on here?

You and 5 of your college buddies started a company, presumably to write (and hopefully sell) some sort of computer software.

I take it you do not yet have a customer for this software?

The software is being written by a single developer in India. You oversee his work. What do the other 5 guys do?

From what you describe, it does sound like a losing proposition. Good luck. 🙂 Do you have any kind of formal partnership with these people? Do you retain any ownership of the "company" if you don't work there?

not 5 college buddies... from what I understand, two are doctors, one is a stock broker, and two are college graduates with no jobs and nothing better to do except part-time jobs somewhere else

No formal customer, but we write medical billing software.

I have no idea what the other guys do. So far, I have done about 1 hour's worth of work on this company. One of the college grads with nothing to do is doing all of my work since I have no VB experience. I let people know up front that I have no VB experience and I won't be available for an entire summer, but they still wanted my computer experience for some reason

sending e-mail now

WTF?

So why are they in the company? Do they provide funding? Whos paying whos salary? This 'company' sounds really slack imo and just really half assed. If it takes off then well fair play to you guys! Sounds like it is going to tank badly if you just have one developer and 2 college guys doing some VG stuff. Well unless the two college guys are spectacular or you better be doing something that no one has or has seized the opportunity to do!

Just meet them face to face and tell them.

Koing

Don't ask me, dude. For funding, we met with a VC and got a couple thousand in funding (I don't recall the numbers since I wasn't at the meeting). There is no salary, and I got 10% ownership of the company. How much that is worth is anyone's guess, but it's probably not enough to buy the monitor you're using to view these posts.

I just sent the head guy an e-mail. We'll see what he says.

As for writing commercial software in VB, what is most commercial software written in? C++?

Wait... they brought you onboard because of your "computer experience" but yet you're in this thread asking what languages most commercial software is written in? And at the end of the day you wound up using *VB*??? Exactly what is your area of expertise that they so badly needed you for when you can't handle such a basic and fundamental piece of software development?

first off, I knew most commercial software was written in either C++ or VB, but I didn't know what percentage of which each is written in. Second, it wasn't my decision to use VB, and I had no say for or against it, so stop jumping to conclusions

and I'm sorry that this knowledge is needed to be someone in demand... I guess I should just drop out and /myself now

 

[hx009]

Originally posted by: HardTech
what is most commercial software written in? C++?

Originally posted by: HardTech
first off, I knew most commercial software was written in either C++ or VB

Oh, ok. Thanks for clearing that up.

Originally posted by: HardTech
I'm sorry that this knowledge is needed to be someone in demand

Apparently not. But maybe it should.