💔 What's your worst ever experience as a founder?

Question

I've been a startup founder for 7 years.🙌🏻 The worst moment I've been through was a potential acquirer ditching the deal at the last minute.

I went full-time working on this deal for 6 months.

✅ 50+ confidential docs (e.g traction, strategies) for DD submitted. 
✅ 20+ meetings took place.
✅ Term sheets signed. 
✅ Lawyers hired. 
✅ $ structure and shareholder distribution - all settled.

They ditched at the last minute and even said something very disrespectful.

Feel free to share yours! Love to collect more stories and learnings🙌🏻

Harris Cheng · Accepted Answer

I'm still gutted today. But hey, that's the tipping point that changed me as a founder who is more humble and with more empathy.💫

I'm proud that I've gone through it, stand back up, and above all, I think I'm now a better human being💛

Answer

my most challenging moment was when our lead investor pulled out after months of negotiations, leaving us in a precarious financial situation and forcing us to bootstrap, renegotiate contracts, and rethink our entire business strategy, while managing the morale of the team amidst this setback.

Harris Cheng · Answer

@jacob_gonzo5 I know that feel. What I've learned from a similar experience is that traction judges founders' destiny. When momentum goes off, everything just don't fall into place. But this is also what distinguishes between good and great founders.

💔 What's your worst ever experience as a founder?

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