Ask HN: Don't want to steal an idea, but don't need 4 non-technical cofounders

People will rush to tell you that ideas aren't worth anything and simply having an idea gives your erstwhile prospective cofounders little claim on it. That's true, but not dispositive. If you start your own venture based on an idea they believe they entrusted to you, there will be drama. You have no guarantee that the drama won't take a form that requires lawyers. Either way: it'll be ugly.

Life is too short. Do something else.

Because we were playing the most stacked team I decided that the best chance of winning would be to limit the playing time of the two weakest players - something I had not done all season. The kids lost 9-1, anyway.

Bad choices I made when I was young, don't bother me. Part of being young is not knowing better. This one was different. I went against being the kind of person I want to be, and asking myself "Is that action the sort of action that is consistent with the kind of person I want to be?" is for me the essence of ethical action.

I bring this up to point out that the idea you are thinking about isn't validated. If you're going to steal it, own the action. Don't pretend that bringing along the CEO guy with the website changes anything morally or ethically - injustice upon one person or two or three are all morally equivalent.

The worst case scenario isn't that the business fails, it's if you hurt people and it fails. You won't even have the ends justifying the means. It's fucking web app not a cure for cancer.

Keep a healthy perspective and good luck.

Call me ethically challenged, but if the idea is really so good that you believe in it. Go build the app.

Ideas are like farts... some stink some don't but they happen all the time.

If you build the app, you can go back to the group and say. Here I built it, I'm willing to share 25% with the 4 of you.

The notion that, because someone conceived a idea, it is his, is ridiculous. Lots of people wanted to fly with wings and a motor, but the Wright bros actually put in the hours to make it so. Ideas belong to the people who bring them to life.

You have more leverage here if you have the working prototype in your hand.

And no one is going to sue over an idea for a business that doesn't exist.

You should probably talk to the founder about this issue first.

If you feel bad about this situation for any reason, you might consider hiring them to do some consulting work for you on this project, whether now or some point down the road. This provides just some of the following benefits...

* An extra learning experience for them where you can set them on the right road to performing some tasks they otherwise never would have thought of * some extra compensation that they would have otherwise never had an opportunity to get * an opportunity to really gauge their competency and see if they can have a major future role with you.

As far as having 4 idea guys as cofounders, that's my personal vision of hell. I've been in that situation with one designer and one idea guy just doing a couple of iphone apps on the side for fun. It quickly turned into general unpleasantness all round as our idea guy, having nothing useful to do, busied himself with being Chef Executive A$@hat. You've got 4 of them? shudder I'd probably turn that down even they had funding and paying customers.

Yup! Money NOT equity! Just charge market rates for your work. With 4 cofounders they should be able to finance "their idea" - hey they work in a bank ... dhuuh!

If they don't want to play on your terms, then it is better to find out now. One tech guy vs four biz types - just can't end well. No contract will totally protect you and good lawyers don't come cheap. Cheap lawyers end up costing even more in the long term.

If you want to smooth things over, talk to him and say you like the idea, but see things a little differently, and are going to take a shot at the concept on your own.

The chances of succeeding are extremely slim, so don't lower your odds by carrying 4 people along as dead weight as you do all the work.

Sitting around dreaming shit up in no way qualifies someone to run a company.

if you think the guy you met will be signficant value add to your ability to execute on the idea, then obviously include him. it sounds like he and his team are not really going to be able to add a lot of value though. don't weigh yourself down.