HACKER Q&A
📣 holden514

Am I getting maneuvered out of my ownership?


So 3 years ago I co-founded a fintech startup to help a well connected local banking executive basically solve his own problem. He took 60% as the major financial backer, I kicked in some money + my design/PM skillset for 30%, his uncle took 5% as CFO and we hired a software architect who took 5% as part of his compensation.

We built a fairly solid MVP and are wrapping up a successful beta with our first client who will, once signed, open up the doors to a lot more most likely.

As we finalize our contract with them, the owner and his uncle have decided to form a new holding company that will license the software from the LLC I have ownership in with a new split of 70% owner, 10% for the other founding members.

I'm at a pretty big disadvantage here as having zero finance background, it was sold to me as our original LLC will hold all the assets and the new on will hold all the debt but, it just smells odd. I've seen this structure before in other startup I've worked at, but there was revenue and significant IP involved, here we have no revenue yet and basically are an online spreadsheet as a service MVP to an old school niche underserved by tech currently. Also once it looked like we're going to make some money on this, the CFO started trying to buy me out of some of my ownership which is why I think I'm concerned.

Am I overthinking things here and this is above board or is this off?


  👤 kidgorgeous Accepted Answer ✓
Sounds like a Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin situation to me: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-mark-zuckerberg-booted-h...

My advice, consult with a corporate attorney.


👤 mardiyah
Consult a legal consultant/advisor

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