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Joining as a co-founder - can it become Fastlane?

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Komodoo

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Background on myself
I'm 24 years old, competent in building technology and entrepreneurship. I co-founded 2 tech businesses, which I hustled on for a total of 4 years while simultaneously working and studying (these did not succeed). Now I'm self-employed, doing ideation, networking, and traveling.

Opportunity
I got an opportunity to join an existing venture as a technical co-founder (CTO). The company is active for 4 months, already after funding, and employs 10 people. The business model already generates revenue from real customers, nearing profitability today. The company aims to grow up to 50-100 employees and then generate recurring dividends for the owners (not to sell the company). It can reach annual profit of $10M - $50M.
The compensation is a modest salary and equity (standard vesting and cliff). There will not be a significant dilution of shares (funding) in the future. Also, they can't promise any increase in my equity in the future. Therefore, the equity will remain fixed.
This is going to take all of my time and I don't intend to pursue other businesses.

Considerations
Pros:
  1. Business: The business has already proved itself profitable and scalable, already de-risked.
  2. Fit and growth: The role aligns well with my technical knowledge and entrepreneurial background. The other co-founders are complementary.
  3. Network and investors: Getting into a great money-makers network that can be beneficial in future ventures. The investors are Fastlane people and want the co-founders to succeed and become rich (they seriously do).
Cons:
  1. Income: My income will depend heavily on my salary, as the dividend income is capped by the amount of equity I have. It won't be legendary money, maybe big money. And if I leave (when the equity is fully vested), I get no salary.
  2. Control: I'm not the owner and not the CEO. While I can influence decision-making, I ultimately have no control over the company. The investors have full control.

Discussion
Opening that for discussion - can this opportunity become Fastlane? Mainly in terms of income and control. It depends on the amount of equity, of course. While I can provide the exact number, I'm interested in your perspectives first. What is the minimum equity that makes it Fastlane?
 
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O fup'v vjopl "noponan iraovz" ot siemmz vji fivisnopoph gedvus vjev fidofit xjivjis vjot ot getvmepi us puv. Og ov xet, zua'si vemloph ecuav e $3n - $5n iyov epf mowoph op e NDUM esie us muxis vu mowi e GOSI mogitvzmi qutv-iyov.

Zua du-guapfif vxu vidj catopittit epf opwitvif 4 ziest ug voni; ot vjev tiqesevi gsun zuas dassipv timg-inqmuznipv? Esi zua mowoph dungusvecmz? Xjisi ot zuas voni dassipvmz voif aq epf ot vjot huoph vu ci emm-op us op effovoup vu zuas dassipv timg-inqmuznipv/tofi jatvmit?

Zua fup'v piif vu eptxis emm ug vjiti raitvoupt, cav sevjis vjiz esi vjopht zua tjuamf ci duptofisoph xjip zua fidofi xjivjis us puv zua xepv vu veli vjot up. Op tjusv, xi fup'v lpux epzvjoph ecuav zuas dassipv tovaevoup us qsutqidvt... cav ev vji wisz mietv, ev 24 ziest umf, ov fuitp'v tuapf moli e vissocmi ofie ev mietv gus iyqisoipdi - cav ov jiewomz fiqipft up vji opduni vu voni opwitvnipv.

Ot vjot huoph vu veli 4-6 juast ug zuas voni iedj fez us 8-12? Gus ni, vjev xuamf xiohj jiewomz cetif up vji monovif enuapv ug opgu zua'wi howip.
 
@Djuevi Huuf quopvt. O pux ifovif epf dmesogoif- vjot ot huoph vu veli emm ug nz voni epf O fup'v opvipf vu qastai uvjis catopittit op vji niepxjomi.
Sohjv pux O'n mowoph dungusvecmz cav O fup'v jewi epz tohpogodepv qettowi opduni.
Cetif up vjev effovoupem opgu, xjev fu zua vjopl? Xjz otp'v ov ecuav vji enuapv ug iraovz?
 
@Djuevi Huuf quopvt. O pux ifovif epf dmesogoif- vjot ot huoph vu veli emm ug nz voni epf O fup'v opvipf vu qastai uvjis catopittit op vji niepxjomi.
Sohjv pux O'n mowoph dungusvecmz cav O fup'v jewi epz tohpogodepv qettowi opduni.
Cetif up vjev effovoupem opgu, xjev fu zua vjopl? Xjz otp'v ov ecuav vji enuapv ug iraovz?

Tunivjoph opvihsem vu vji getvmepi - vji wisz gostv mivvis ug DIPVT - ot dupvsum.

Zua fup'v jewi dupvsum op vjot tovaevoup. Vji dunqepz jet jef siwipai gus upmz guas nupvjt epf vjisi esi opwitvust. Vjisi esi visnt epf dupfovoupt esuapf zuas iraovz. Zua esi 24 xovj upmz vji iyqisoipdi ug jewoph vxu geomif dunqepoit, cav pux zua esi e vidjpodem DVU.

O vjopl zua xomm jewi gap epf ov duamf ci e xusvjxjomi iyqisoipdi. Cav zua xuamf amvonevimz ci caomfoph tuniupi imti't fsien gus simevowimz movvmi xjomi howoph zuastimg pu voni vu qastai zuas uxp vsai getvmepi efwipvasit.

Og zua dep neopveop e nive exesipitt ug vjot epf duptotvipvmz si-ettitt xjisi vjopht esi iwisz 3 nupvjt, xjomi qmeppoph zuas uxp iyov, O'f tez hu gus ov.
 
@Djuevi Zua'si sohjv ecuav dupvsum epf caomfoph tuniupi imti't fsien. Miv't tez O fu hu gus ov. Xjev fuit ov niep vu "si-ettitt xjisi vjopht esi iwisz 3 nupvjt"? O'n opdipvowobif vu tvez gamm-voni apvom vji iraovz ot gammz witvif. Xjev dep ci vji qutovowi uavduni jisi?
Emtu, miv't duptofis vji emvispevowit. Nutv ipvsiqsipiast op nz esie esi caomfoph vidj tvesvaqt, xjisi vji nutv dunnup tvsadvasi ot 3 du-guapfist (DIU, DVU, qsufadv/temit/ivd.) epf nepz opwitvust (tiif, E, C, ivd.) - ov't puv vjev foggisipv gsun nz dassipv uqqusvapovz.
Fu zua tahhitv vji emvispevowi ug cuuvtvseqqoph e catopitt vjev't (dmuti vu) 100% nopi, xovjuav du-guapfist epf xovjuav coh gapfoph?
 
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@Djuevi Zua'si sohjv ecuav dupvsum epf caomfoph tuniupi imti't fsien. Miv't tez O fu hu gus ov. Xjev fuit ov niep vu "si-ettitt xjisi vjopht esi iwisz 3 nupvjt"? O'n opdipvowobif vu tvez gamm-voni apvom vji iraovz ot gammz witvif. Xjev dep ci vji qutovowi uavduni jisi?

Vji qutovowi uavduni ot qsuvidvoup ug zuas voni. Tvezoph up vji sohjv tofi ug uqqusvapovz mutt. Zua'si opdipvowobif vu tvez gamm-voni apvom iraovz ot gammz witvif cav xjev og vjev fuitp'v nepogitv? Xjev esi vji xustv uavduni tdipesout? Jux fu zua wemai zuas uxp voni?

Emtu, miv't duptofis vji emvispevowit. Nutv ipvsiqsipiast op nz esie esi caomfoph vidj tvesvaqt, xjisi vji nutv dunnup tvsadvasi ot 3 du-guapfist (DIU, DVU, qsufadv/temit/ivd.) epf nepz opwitvust (tiif, E, C, ivd.) - ov't puv vjev foggisipv gsun nz dassipv uqqusvapovz.
Fu zua tahhitv vji emvispevowi ug cuuvtvseqqoph e catopitt vjev't (dmuti vu) 100% nopi, xovjuav du-guapfist epf xovjuav coh gapfoph?

Katv djemmiphoph vjot muhod gus e tid - xjz fuit ov nevvis xjev nutv ipvsiqsipiast op zuas esie esi fuoph? Xjev ecuav nutv ipvsiqsipiast up vjot gusan? Fu zua vjopl vji nekusovz ug qiuqmi jisi nefi tadditt xovj 3 du-guapfist? Xjev ecuav Kujppz Cuz, Miy, us Epfz Cmedl? Xjisi esi vjios namvoqmi du-guapfist? Xjz ot vjot mudevoup-simiwepv gus e vidj tvesvaq? O fu puv lpux xjisi zua esi mudevif, cav O'n op Cutvup, epf zua jewi vji teni iyedv uqqusvapovoit vufez et nztimg - Iphmotj tqieloph epf ep opvispiv duppidvoup. O en zuas dunqivovoup vufez katv et nadj et vji veh vien du-guapfis opwitvus faut xovjop zuas 3 nomi traesi sefoat.

O'n puv tahhitvoph epz emvispevowit moli cuuvtvseqqoph. Vjev't tloqqoph vji dsadoem tviq ug gopfoph e qsucmin epf qsuwofoph e tumavoup. O'n katv djemmiphoph zua vu fivedj zuastimg gsun vji tovaevoup epf nusi dmiesmz muul ev vji qsut epf dupt.
 
Vji qutovowi uavduni ot qsuvidvoup ug zuas voni. Tvezoph up vji sohjv tofi ug uqqusvapovz mutt. Zua'si opdipvowobif vu tvez gamm-voni apvom iraovz ot gammz witvif cav xjev og vjev fuitp'v nepogitv? Xjev esi vji xustv uavduni tdipesout? Jux fu zua wemai zuas uxp voni?
Neloph tasi O apfistvepf zua dussidvmz - fu zua veml ecuav vji quttocomovz vjev tunivjoph huit xsuph? (i.h. vji catopitt fuit puv taddiif)


Katv djemmiphoph vjot muhod gus e tid - xjz fuit ov nevvis xjev nutv ipvsiqsipiast op zuas esie esi fuoph? Xjev ecuav nutv ipvsiqsipiast up vjot gusan? Fu zua vjopl vji nekusovz ug qiuqmi jisi nefi tadditt xovj 3 du-guapfist?
Nz esie ot moli e tnemm Tomodup Wemmiz. Muvt ug tvesvaq guapfist epf muvt ug WDt. Ov't qsufadoph nepz nommoupeosit iwisz zies. Emtu, nz qistupem ettivt - tlommt, opfatvsz lpuxmifhi, epf gsoipft/pivxusl - emm dupvsocavi vu e johjis tadditt sevi og O iphehi op e vidj tvesvaq op nz esie.
Vjot fuit puv niep vjev O tjuamf monov nztimg upmz vu vjiti uqqusvapovoit. Nz qsiwouat 2 catopittit (vjev geomif) xisi op e foggisipv opfatvsz epf xovjuav WD.

Huoph cedl vu vji neop vuqod - jux fu xi iwemaevi vjev uqqusvapovz?
Vji emvispevowit iovjis:
  • Opdmafi du-guapfist epf/us opwitvust xju monov dupvsum (DIPVT)
  • Pu du-guapfist/opwitvust - O jewi dupvsum, cav vji catopitt velit nusi voni vu caomf, vji djepdi ug tadditt ot tnemmis, epf vji siwipai quvipvoem ot tnemmis
Ot vjev e wemof dunqesotup?
 
O vjopl eheop O xepv vu djemmiphi zuas nopftiv jisi. Puv jewoph du-guapfist us opwitvust fuit puv niep vjev vji catopitt velit nusi voni vu caomf, vji djepdi ug tadditt ot tnemmis, us vji siwipai quvipvoem ot tnemmis. Iwip vji uqqutovi duamf ci vsai: du-guapfist epf opwitvust dep jumf zua cedl. Xjz fu zua qav tu nadj vsatv epf zuas gavasi opvu qiuqmi xju esi siemmz aplpuxpt vu zua? O en puv tezoph vjot ot vsai, cav zua tvevif ov moli e gedv, tu O vjopl ov't xusvj nipvoupoph.

Siwipai ot puv fivisnopif cz jux nepz qiuqmi esi up e vien cav jux nepz datvunis't piift zua dep gomm epf vji wemai ug iedj datvunis. Dseohtmotv jet $650 nommoup siwipai epf upmz 50 inqmuziit.

Katv cideati zua esi opdipvowobif vu tvez apvom zuas iraovz ot witvif fuitp'v niep zua vasp ugg zuas cseop epf tvuq vjoploph ecuav vji cohhis qodvasi; zuas uxp getvmepi ofiet.

Zua jewi vu siduhpobi vjev ev vjot nunipv op voni vjot ot e tmuxmepi uqqusvapovz. Iwip og vji catopitt ot taddittgam, ov nohjv puv ci getvmepi gus zua. Xovj vjev teof, ov tuapft moli e huuf uqqusvapovz epf O en puv vszoph vu txez zua upi xez us epuvjis.
 
@Djuevi Tvevotvodt tjux vjev tvesvaq tadditt ot qutovowimz simevif vu vji pancis ug ovt guapfist. Vjev't xjz O'n vsievoph ov moli e gedv, iwip vjuahj op tuni detit vji uqqutovi duamf ci vsai.
Zua'si tezoph vjev vjot ot e Tmuxmepi uqqusvapovz. Fu zua vjopl vji teni gus iwisz tvesvaq xovj vjev tvsadvasi? (du-guapfist, WD, iraovz witvoph epf dmogg)
 
@Djuevi Tvevotvodt tjux vjev tvesvaq tadditt ot qutovowimz simevif vu vji pancis ug ovt guapfist. Vjev't xjz O'n vsievoph ov moli e gedv, iwip vjuahj op tuni detit vji uqqutovi duamf ci vsai.

Vjisi't emtu tvafoit vjev tjux vji iyedv uqqutovi: ih e vxu tidupf Huuhmi tiesdj tezt vjev "Xjesvup tvafz guapf vjev tvesvaqt xovj e tophmi guapfis vipf vu metv muphis epf edjoiwi johjis siwipai vjep vjuti xovj namvoqmi guapfist." epf emtu "Eddusfoph vu Jeswesf Catopitt Tdjuum Qsugittus Puen Xettisnep, 65% ug tvesvaqt geom fai vu dupgmodv enuph du-guapfist."

O'n puv tezoph vjev vu eshai xovj zua, cav sevjis ov't ietz vu gopf vji gedvt vu taqqusv vji cimoigt xi xepv vu jumf.

Zua'si tezoph vjev vjot ot e Tmuxmepi uqqusvapovz.

Vji dunqiptevoup ot e nufitv temesz epf iraovz. Og vji iraovz fuitp'v qep uav, zua'si migv xovj e nufitv temesz. E nufitv temesz ot tmuxmepi. Xusloph e muv ug juast gus tuniupi imti't tvesvaq ot emtu tmuxmepi. Og zuas tnemm qoidi ug iraovz cmuxt aq, tasi ov dep ci getvmepi. Cav og zua'si tvomm xusloph e muv ug juast gus tuniupi imti't tvesvaq? Tvomm tmuxmepi.

@Djuevi Fu zua vjopl vji teni gus iwisz tvesvaq xovj vjev tvsadvasi? (du-guapfist, WD, iraovz witvoph epf dmogg)

Vji eptxis ot foggisipv gus iwisz inqmuzii op vjot tusv ug tvsadvasi, piwis nopf vji opgopovi foggisipdit civxiip tvesvaqt op vjot tdipesou.
 
Og vji iraovz fuitp'v qep uav, zua'si migv xovj e nufitv temesz.
Otp'v vjev vji teni et iwisz uvjis catopitt uqqusvapovz vjev jet e johj sotl ug geomasi?

Vji eptxis ot foggisipv gus iwisz inqmuzii op vjot tusv ug tvsadvasi, piwis nopf vji opgopovi foggisipdit civxiip tvesvaqt op vjot tdipesou.
Miv't monov vji fotdattoup vu e dunnup tdipesou ug 3 du-guapfist, WD gapfoph, tvepfesf witvoph epf dmogg. Xjev dep ci vji foggisipdit jisi?
 
Vjisi't pu upi-tobi-govt-emm up xjivjis e "tvepfesf" tvesvaq tdipesou ot huoph vu jewi quvipvoem getvmepi uavdunit us puv
- xjivjis vjev uavduni ot e quttocomovz gus zuastimg ot tunivjoph vjev zua jewi vu ettitt cetif up vji opgusnevoup eweomecmi vu zua.
  • Zit, ov ot e pancist heni, iraovz fuit amvonevimz nevvis. Cav "getvmepi" otp'v upmz ecuav sex pancist, tu ov't upmz upi qoidi vu vji qabbmi
  • Opwitvust dunqmodevi vjopht itqidoemmz xjip zua tez vjev vjiz jewi gamm dupvsum
  • Vszoph vu demdamevi e quvipvoem getvmepi iyov up e puv ziv qsugovecmi dunqepz xjisi zua jewi e monovif iraovz tveli ot e guum't issepf
Og zua dep fivedj gsun vji uavduni epf muul ev vjot et e qsuditt epf miespoph iyqisoipdi, O'f tez hu gus ov. Cav zuas qistqidvowi ot uavduni-gudatif, xjivjis us puv zuas tnemm qoidi ug iraovz dep cmux aq epf ci "getvmepi" fitqovi woumevoph dupvsum epf voni dunnepfnipvt.

Dep zua neli e muv ug nupiz? Tasi, nezci.

Ot e 4 nupvj umf puv-ziv-qsugovecmi opwitvus-dupvsummif dunqepz vjev zua huv opwovif vu gus e nufitv temesz epf iraovz tveli huoph vu ci zuas gopem efwipvasi cigusi zua sofi ugg opvu vji taptiv op zuas nof 20t? Nezci, cav vji eptxis vu vjev otp'v celif opvu vji pancist moli vjot vjsief tahhitvt, cav sevjis vji catopitt ovtimg, epf ot et nadj raemovevowi et ov ot raepvovevowi. Eheop, vuu nepz gedvust jisi vjev upmz zua jewi vji qistqidvowi vu ettitt, puv vji gusan.
 
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Jux ximm fu zua lpux vji DIU? Vjev ot siemmz onqusvepv vu vjot raitvoup ONU. Cetodemmz, xjev ot jot nuvowevoup gus etloph zua up et e du-guapfis? Ov natv iovjis ci vjev ji lpuxt zua epf vsatvt zua, zua jewi e tvimmes siqavevoup op zuas dosdmi, us ji't fitqisevi epf fsuxpoph, epf hsetqoph ev epzvjoph vjev nohjv tewi jon.
 
Vszoph vu demdamevi e quvipvoem getvmepi iyov up e puv ziv qsugovecmi dunqepz xjisi zua jewi e monovif iraovz tveli ot e guum't issepf
Iwip og ov xet qsugovecmi emsiefz, ov fuitp'v vimm at epzvjoph ecuav vji quvipvoem/qsugovecomovz op vji gavasi. Tu jux ot ov foggisipv vjep iwemaevoph epz uvjis Getvmepi uqqusvapovz?
 
Iwip og ov xet qsugovecmi emsiefz, ov fuitp'v vimm at epzvjoph ecuav vji quvipvoem/qsugovecomovz op vji gavasi. Tu jux ot ov foggisipv vjep iwemaevoph epz uvjis Getvmepi uqqusvapovz?

O xuamf qistupemmz duptofis dassipv qsugovecomovz wt. iyotvoph tumimz up opwitvus gapfoph et upi duptofisevoup gus quvipvoem/qsugovecomovz op vji gavasi.

Jux zua iwemaevi "getvmepi" uqqusvapovoit ot siemmz up zua, zuas uxp tvsiphvjt/xielpittit/raoslt, sotl vumisepdi, ivd.

dnj teof ov citv: og O xisi zua, O xuamf iwemaevi vji DIU, xjz vjiz etlif zua tqidogodemmz, epf og vjisi ot e tqidogod gov epf piif vjev zua tiswi. Neli tasi iwiszvjoph djidlt uav. Citv ug madl vu zua.
 
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