I can’t stand my co-founder anymore. We are a two person company and since day one she calls herself CEO. Everyday I think of quitting.
18 answers from the community
The bigger the company gets the more this attitude will grow.
I think honesty is the best way to overcome communication issues. Buy her coffee, be honest to her. If you believe in the idea and want to hold on to it, then you need to be honest about it and tell her how you feel. Also tell her that you believe in the idea and want to make it work. For all you know, it is unintentional!
Why are you doing this to yourself ?
this is so petty.
woman cofounder, uhhh good luck
And one day, you will have a daughter and someone will not give her a chance to succeed because they will think this. You've already had a mother that's been discounted because someone thought this about her. Your wife will one day make you sleep on the couch because you think this... And that's if and only if a woman is stupid enough to marry a guy who thinks women make bad wives, I mean cofounders - same difference as you are a team.
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+1
Gotta feel for anyone who's toleration your patronising asshat-ness.
Doesn't sound like you have the maturity to navigate your conflicts without resorting to using gendered stereotypes, but you should meet with your put upon co-founder and <em>communicate</em>.
+!
This is assuming you are still sold on the idea.
So talk it out. Women make good co-founders and definitely are willing to talk (I disagree with the reaction on the woman co-founder). Every startup consists of a hacker & a hustler. Which one are you? The CEO is usually the hustler. Can you hustle better?
Talk it out. If you can't talk it out, you should leave now. Better now than later after more people (including investors) have invested.
+1
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Worth talking it out. All start-ups have major jockeying for position. Also, does she own more equity or is it 50:50?
You didn't decide going in who has the better business acumen vs. tech acumen? This sounds like a partnership built on two people with the same skill set. What are you all doing over there?
Sooo, you hate your cofounder just because your ego can't take the fact that you aren't called "CEO"? She probably initiated the company/product and is the hustler amongst you (or you would have stated otherwise).
Do both of you a favour and call it quits now. She and the company deserve a better partner who's focused on actually building a company and working on the inevitable challenges, rather than obssessed with petty things like titles. Because newsflash: CEO/COO/CTO/C-whatever don't matter if ya don't ship.
Is this a 50/50 equity split? Are there investors? Is there a board of directors?
I'd suggest looking for someone familiar with the company and the both of you, with some form of authority (moral, legal, whatever) to mediate.
If you don't have a board of investors or advisors - well, it is high time you got some.
Ultimately CEO is just a name. Unless you are actively being left out of major decisions, I personally don't think it is a big deal if someone wants to say they're Grand Poobah of blabberty blah. The reality is pretty easy to discern as soon as anyone gets into deeper involvement in the company.
However, being disrespected by a business partner is another situation entirely.
If the "company" is just an idea, hasn't been built, isn't making money, and/or has no traction, you both need to throw titles away. I laugh my ass off when someone says they're "CEO" of XYZ idea "startup". Get over yourselves and get to work.
Quit now while the stakes are low, or you will most definitely quit later and at a much, much higher cost. This should be your honeymoon phase, and it sure doesn't sound like it. Run. Believe me. I've seen these things too many times.