Wow.. what a post ! Those startup bullies clearly seems like a new breed of people engineers needs to avoid.

Actually, I also had a mixed experience after a Startup Weekend: I went to my first Startup Weekend with hope of networking but it grew quickly in a great opportunity to create my first app startup.

Here’s my story

Someone smart I didn’t know pitched a cool problem with an hint of a solution, and ended up having me on this team. During the 72 hours streak I found the name, created the logo/branding, made iPhone mockups and built UX/UI. The team was very nice and thinking very hard , but was basically gathering around me while I was doing the hard work making this app a reality.

We won the 2d place and 3 months in a French Incubator.

3 days later, the pitcher called me about continuing working on the app. Since he had already a startup going, he promised me shares and a salary so I can work on it alone in the incubator. I was thrilled ! Being paid to create a startup, w/ shares, was the best option for me since I was married and had a little boy.

Working at the incubator on an iPhone app was a blast: I learned a lot of things, met great people, while building a great product from scratch. Sometimes the “co-founder” came-by a few hours to show his face, give me feedback, and reassure me on our first handshake deal.

After Two months I already built an iPhone beta, and was iterating on the UI/UX & design for the app. Around this time, we decided to meet to talk more seriously about the deal.

Here’s how it went

I spoke first, offering him 50/50 with no salary or less shares with a salary to complete for the percentage. This deal was obviously better for him, since he could have me work full-time on the project for free while he will be working half-time on his other project.

He laughed at my face, and told me that I don’t know anything about business by submitting a 50/50 deal…

He then told me that his potential investors (Which was his dad and his previous boss btw) were potentially investing a few hundred K€, so I can trade my salary for the shares, according to that totally fake number.

It made around 0,3% in total

I couldn’t believe he was doing that to me and really felt the pain of betrayal. I know I took risks by giving my total confidence to a stranger, but I was really feeling the bond between our minds, and I really thought he’ll be generous by seeing how much I added to his idea.

About a week later I decided to take my cash and go my own way, seeing that I couldn’t bear working for him under those terms, since I built the entire product.

It was 18 Months ago.

In September, he released the v1.0 of the app (It was in beta for 6 months), which is identical to the product I built almost on my own: branding, design, UI/UX and features. It’s so similar I recognize my code through the buttons animation! And seeing this old, made-in-a-rush design makes me think: I could make this product so much better !

While I was away, he did an impressive PR work, and ended-up raising 800K$ which was quite hard to swallow for me, even though I don’t really mind and run a good freelance business. Fortunately, his success is now bringing me really interesting app projects, and I truly value the time spent at the incubator.

I try very hard to get all the positive lessons from this period while pushing back the hard feelings.

Because I’m no mean guy, I wish him the best.

I guess Karma will do the rest.