Don't you know I'm loco?

How to do spot an insanely intelligent person from the one who is just plain crazy? At what moment you decide on terminating further business talks over still trying to find a common ground? Obviously, people have different personalities (and it’s crucial for company growth to hire mix of different personalities). At best, after a first weird encounter you may just assume that that person is an extreme introvert/extrovert (the opposite of you), which used to work in different environment. But when do you recognise, that that person is just out of touch with the reality?

I had that exact problem.

My (then) current tech partner was having serious problems at home. I didn’t see his progress in my app development, but at the same time I knew it would be very tactless of me to insist on pushing with the project. I decided to find a tech partner backup – an additional partner/or replacement (depending on how unfavourable was the situation of my then partner and for how long would he be unavailable).
I’ve replied to two requests to connect via one of the co-founder matching site. First applicant seemed very strong, however he was based in LA permanently and was holding a day job. After trying to collaborate remotely with the developers based in Ukraine and Brazil and failing miserably, I decided I can’t do that anymore. Obviously location wasn’t the only unfavourable factor here but it was time. All of my previous developers were holding day jobs, therefore it was extremely hard to sync even for a weekly Skype sprint videoconference.

I moved on to the second candidate.
The applicant’s (let’s call him Ted Bundy) CV was impressive; PhD from one of the most prestigious London universities achieved in the engineering subject which name I can’t even pronounce. Little commercial experience but from his argumentation why he would like to work on Sailo, you could take his extreme ambition and willingness to learn.

During our face-to-face meeting the next day, things got weird.
Ted was very impatient with me explaining him the vision and wanted to know only how much money can he get from it. I mentioned him about the angel investor interested in investing but explained that the deal terms were not favourable (considerably little ££k for high %% equity + place at board of directors which would greatly limit my and other partner’s freedom to choose the strategy direction).
I explained Ted clearly that I’m going to find and secure the investment on much better terms, once we had a working prototype and some customer traction..

He didn’t listen. He was only repeating that I’m silly for not taking the money and that he should be paid for his time. I asked him then if he is interested in being a tech co-founder / partner or if he is looking only for a job as a developer. He said he wants to be a co-founder AND get paid for his time. I pointed that I’m not getting paid for all the time I’m putting into creating these projects and my opportunity costs are high (I could e.g. do more consulting for a client).
He did not listen.
I thought, there is no chance we can work together if we can’t even establish the foundations. I thanked him for his time and said that I don’t see our collaboration happening. We agreed on having Skype call next day with John included. Although personality wise, both me and John found Ted very weird, but we were happy to work with an additional person who is motivated so we were willing to give him a chance.

However, the very next day I got that email from Ted and things went even more down the line:

29/09/2014

Hi Kamila.

I have some reseravations about the sailo app following last nights skype call. I think applying to incubators would be a good idea. I think we need to close funding with your investor and i think i should get paid for doing the app ideally. I dont think John is a very good cofounder and his engineering background is almost none existant. I dont have much on at the minute so i will continue developing the app functionality you outlined but i think our team is too weak at the moment and we need to attract more people. Thanks. See you later. all the best.

Ted Bundy.

I found it very weird that Ted didn’t even work with John yet and he started criticising him. I also found it weird that PhD British graduate is making so many grammar and typo mistakes. I would have not believed that’s he is the person he claims to be if I haven’t had previously checked him on reliable sources (comparing his photos on university site, PhD entry subject etc.).

Hi T,

To be honest, I don’t know what to think of your email. You behave like you perfectly knew what’s best for this start-up and want to manage something, actually without having a slight idea how the start-up scene works.
I find your demands silly and unprofessional. You don’t really seem to be getting how funding and being a co-founder works. The facts are that you are fresh out of your uni, with no commercial experience, just academic background (yes, we have checked your GitHub repo to see your previous code work and it is all academic based code). You value to the market equals almost null and you should value properly the opportunity I am prepared to give you – you need to give something to get back.

If you want money – then clearly you are not looking to be a co-founder but a developer who wants to be paid for his time. Time = money meaning you are looking to be a 9-5 slave.

If you want to be a co-founder, then you put your time and effort into building something, which can give you profit after the launch. I don’t get paid for putting my precious time into these projects. If you want to know, my opportunity costs range within £300-350 per contracting day of my business analyst work. The money I don’t get elsewhere for my additional time, I spend (read: invest) on developing this start-up. In simple words, I don’t get paid for spending time on this startup when I could have. I do it, because I am fully aware about possible, much higher gains.

Regarding John (not Smith – yesterday he pointed and clearly explained you which one is his first name) – he may not be an amazing developer, but he tries to create a working prototype – it doesn’t need to be perfect at first, but good enough to allow us to get customer traction.

Please don’t tell me how to manage this project, but focus on technical part of it. If you can’t do that, then unfortunately we can’t collaborate together.

Please let me know your thoughts,

Thanks,
Kamila

19/09/2014

Hi, I was just telling you my concerns. Following the interview yesterday I can not see the app getting off the ground. I have mentioned John’s limited engineering experience. I was not filled with confidence. I still think the idea is a good one with payment at the point of ordering. I think we SHOULD be pursuing accelerators and funding as a key priority. I don’t know what the point of having a group call is? To discuss the ‘vision’ because I was not convinced my Ted’s vision. Regarding his programming experience it was extremely limited and he will struggle to do the app if at all. I am used to working with open source software developers who work online and have pride in there work and are fun to work with. I don’t really know how John fits into the team dynamic. You mentioned co-founders. I got into this looking for a cofounder. I don’t think John is a goood cofounder and If he is going to be part of the cofounding team then we need to get some more people on the team such as the investor and/or another engineer because I don’t get what he brings. What is his background? Do you have a c.v?

20/09/2014

Ok T,

I completely understand you would like to work with equally intelligent people, but it seems you completely lack emotional intelligence. Business is about human connections, about building trust and support. I took John onto the team to test our partnership – I met him via one of the cofounders platform too, I know his limitations but I see he is trying and makes progress. Slow but it’s always something closer to the goal. Saying that, I need to do what is best for the company because the team is only as strong as its weakest link. You may have some good qualities (which I haven’t seen yet – I need to see you in action of development) but you shall know your part and stick to it.

I can tell you right now, that none of the start-ups was created (in reality) by one person. You always need a co-founder/partner, whom you need to trust and let him do his job. Arrogant people “who know better” are the first to go.

The purpose of the meeting was mainly to know you as a person, to see if we can work together, and to discuss the functions of the app. I don’t want to take on-board somebody who is going to disagree with me all the time. By not meeting us you show disrespect and arrogance (again). You may not like the style of John’s work, but you know what? In business you will meet lots of people whose work style you won’t approve but you will have to keep your mouth shut, grin and bear it.

I know what I’m doing with the financial part. What we need to give is a prototype and get some user traction. Then and only THEN I will work my connections and reach to potential investors. I’m believable, inspiring, trustworthy and convincing (something you lack due to your money chase). I will get us money, you can be sure of that. But I need prototype and a good website first. If you think you can make a better and quicker app, then stop complaining/ being frustrated and let me walk you through the features so you can develop the Android prototype.

Best,
Kamila

You must know that on the day of our meeting I requested Ted to sign NDA (I do it with everyone) prior to giving him access to the Dropbox files (mockups, concepts and other documentation). After I decided not to collaborate with Ted, I disconnected his access to our files un-ticking the option, where the user can keep the files on his computer (=the files would be deleted with the moment I disconnected his account from our folder).

Few days passed by (it was 24/09) and I’m getting this email:

Hi Kamila,

I’ve had some time to work on the Sailo app today. I’ve drafted the registration page, login page and landing page. I was wondering if you had a graphic with the Sailo logo. I noticed there were some Font styles in your design. I was thinking of applying to the bethnal green ventures incubator. It is aimed at environmentally and socially beneficial inventions. I was wondering if you could write something about this. I notice you are on angellist. Perhaps you could write a blurb for Sailo on there.

Regards,

Ted

I clearly stated to Ted that I’m not going to collaborate with him and I wished him good luck with finding the right project and co-founder. Now he was telling me that not only he breached the terms of NDA by keeping the confidential materials (he probably copied and moved the files from the dropbox folder to somewhere else) but he was also telling me that he is WORKING on the project, even though I declined it.

I wasn’t responding and the very next day (25/09) I’m getting this:

Hi Kamila,

The app is coming along nicely. I have put some android.css styling on a couple of the pages and working through that. I was wondering if you had any designs for the web-site. Like I said I was interested in doing the website in ruby on rails which I would like to get started with. I’m a little worried that you don’t have much technical knowledge but I hope that we can continue to have a functioning co-founder / co-founder relationship. If this isn’t possible you will have to pay me for the app and my development time.

Regards,

Mr Bundy

I thought it’s some kind of joke. I clearly told off the guy that I’m not going to work with him and now he was stating that I will have to pay him for his time. Nice. I needed to respond so I told him once again in non-ambiguous, without a doubt of hope way that I’m not interested in working with him. I tried to keep ignoring him.

Four days passed by and guess what – Mr Bundy became active again: (29/09)

Hi Kamila,

Are you still looking for someone to design your app and website. I don’t mind continuing the development. If you are still in contact with the investor it might be a good idea to get the investment from him to pay for our development and design and then launch the app. I’m only asking because I was talking to another app developer today and he seems to think you should get the money. He wants me to work on his app so I would abandon this project if you arn’t interested in continuing because of personal differences.

Regards,
Ted

When I thought it’s finally over, after few weeks I got that email:

18/10/2014

Hi Kamila,

I was wondering if you were serious about the Sailo Startup. I have been working on the wireframe for the android app and ruby on rails app for the web. I havn’t done much recently because I havn’t spoke to you. Has your friend got very far with the IOS implementation? I understand you are under alot of stress but I am still looking for cofounders and I liked your idea.

Regards,

Ted Bundy

I hope Ted has found a new subject of interest and won’t be bothering me anymore. As for the progress of Sailo and Evoque – over the last few weeks I had a series of serious talks over where I’m heading and what I’m trying to achieve. I decided to focus on getting the concept right (doing better job than initial assumptions and cursory market research). To do this, I needed to put to the ground all mess which I’ve created and start over according to:

Try. Experiment. Iterate. Fail. Try again. Change the world.

“When the whole world is crazy, it doesn’t pay to be sane.”
― Terry Goodkind, The Pillars of Creation

*All the names have been changed.