Cover your ‘Half-Assed’ Startup
March 12, 2008
Tony Wright’s article titled, “Half-Assed Startup” describes how you can “keep your day job, while starting your company“. Tony and Ivan’s last bit of advice is worth repeating:
Be sure you own your startup. I’ve had the fortune of working in companies where there was very clear ownership of “after hours” work. If ownership of your personal intellectual property is not clear, do not rely on the good will of your employer. Greed can do funny things to people, even if they were initially big supporters of your startup. (Thanks to Ivan from TipJoy for this final suggestion.)
My advice, as someone who employs lots of smart guys fully capable of starting their own companies, is to sit down with your employer PRIOR to starting your new company and let him know what you are planning to do. Spell it out. If he has a problem with your idea, you have two choices a) agree not to do it or b) get another day job. If he is supportive of your plan get him to agree, in writing, that you have his permission and that he agrees it will be YOURS. If your idea or plan is related to the work you do, don’t bother asking for permission, QUIT now and get another job out of the field and then start your business (asking permission could put your idea at risk in this case).
