I am the founder & CEO of an 8-person company, 4 of which are founders. One of the founders has a new excuse every day for why something isn’t done and the other two can’t communicate without me in between. What a fucking mess.

Sorry.

-Maybe/not one of your cofounders

I was in the same situation. I know how much it sucks. A friend and successful business owner told me I needed to have a hard conversation with the team because we're not growing at our potential pace due to the missed deadlines of my fellow founders. that was a few months ago, now the entire company is restructured and all the fat is gone.

This is why there should be only two founders maximum. There's no way that 4 people could make an equal contribution, and such a situation is dysfunctional anyways since there's no clear leader. Like Mark Suster says, too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

Also, why would you want to split equity with 3 other people anyways. Even before taking funding, you're already down to 25% ownership. Even if your company succeeds, you'll be left with a tiny ownership percentage.

It's not the number of founders that makes the situation problematic. It's everyone's ability to step up to the plate.

four is too many founders. A fist fight is going to break out any day now. Someone take the lead and have a big talk and maybe buy someone out.

you guys hiring? I'll play peacemaker with my huge tits.

Get the other two to have weekly meetings without you (and ask them to share notes to keep you informed)