The Accidental CTO

Laid off for having 'too much potential.' Found a founder on a sketchy website. Built a prototype. Launched. Asked for a contract. Got a title instead. And equity I didn't even know I had. The origin story of how I became a CTO without even applying.

CTO takeaway

The lesson, minus the scar tissue.

If your founder drafts equity before you even understand it, that's a green flag. Hold onto them.
Know what equity means. Even if you don't ask for it, make sure you understand it when it's offered.
A title is just a word. A stake is a statement. One says 'you work here.' The other says 'you belong here.'

Next issue

#002 · The Rise and Fall of BigReach

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A comic, a story and a takeaway every other week. Written for founders who inherited a codebase they didn't choose.

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