njens

All true. I've shared a large report that I wrote with a consultant to help unpick some of the detail. Superficially, the CEO is right. Scratch the surface, and I'm right. Who's right or wrong is moot(?). I like the thought that I can reduce my engagement with the CEO and focus on the work/relationships that I enjoy. At least for a bit.

CTO isn't the right title for my actual role. I've got the "map to the customer", many options for pivots with detail, I understand the customer from another side too (it's teaching tech... and as a former teacher that's also part of "not just a CTO"). It's tough tech. I've already done key tricky bits. Another part of what hurt was rolling in more tech after the fact (after the 50/50 handshake). I've taken that out, we have clearer focus without it (and I feel better). Part of the problem is my hunger to take the CEO trail myself... from the beginning.

I would enjoy it... but that would be short-lived if the company is worth it... and this is hurting because it is

pants. Is it bad to address this with equity. Our handshake was based on equal equity and standing (I asked for a lot more than 50/50 initially and took the leap-of-faith to join forces), and that the job-titles were secondary... that's not really working out.

No, I can't do this startup by myself. He's done some great things already getting the company funded and finding me. (Hard words to say.) I left my academic job to experience the thrills and spills of founding+leading, that's something I feel like I've lost that is part of this. I'm striving to keep this real and face all the truths. I don't want to kill this venture, but know what I've felt growing over the past few months. Perhaps it's transient and I need a better focus on the bigger picture. (CTO vs non-technical CEO readings sound like a great move.)

Thanks. This is all good to hear and something I'm struggling to reconcile. In academia I was always keen to show and develop a real capability, as opposed to being the comfortable academic. I wrote a lot of code and some decent engines for the different techs relevant to my field... but that's not exactly the point. I've been increasingly keen to learn about startups/entrepreneurship and have engaged with mentors and local startups and incubators for years in prep of making the leap. A large part of my value is taking away the risk and showing investors and potential recruits that we can get it done. My academic job wasn't handed to me.