HACKER Q&A
📣 neon-nights-

Complacency after acquisition; Is this normal?


I'm cofounder of 3, we recently exited our startup at $50m valuation. The three of us have become very wealthy, and we were asked to move to a new state by the acquiring company.

With that, we've each indulged ourselves a little in terms of the apartments we rented/bought in the new state. We've also socialized a lot more with each other after the acquisition. Over the past 3 weeks we've partied hard 3 or 4 times. It seems like we're all a lot more relaxed, and overall less stressed. It feels really positive, and good.

I've noticed in myself going from 60 hour weeks, to 40 probably.

I still definitely feel a drive, there's a lot of potential upside being so close to the founders of the company that acquired us, but I must say it's not the same drive I used to experience.

It's like a weight is off my shoulders and the feeling of needing to succeed is a lot more dull... but it's definitely still there.

I'm curious if this is a normal experience after an acquisition? A mentor of mine mentioned that in his experience founders take it easier 2 years after an acquisition as a sort of recharge period.. The thought of that makes me uncomfortable for some reason...


  👤 missedthecue Accepted Answer ✓
"I'm curious if this is a normal experience after an acquisition?"

It's called incentive alignment. Why work so hard for someone else? They have all the upside of any more 60 hour weeks.


👤 yuppie_scum
Rest and vest babbaaaay