aamir virani

The Four Things You Cannot Do as You Leave a Startup

Due to some recent work drama, I was privy to a list of key things you can’t do when you leave a startup. Here’s the list:

1. Don’t poach people (including a co-founder in a new venture)
2. Don’t take bizdev, IP, or other insider info
3. Don’t blast the company or its VCs in the press/blogs/media
4. Don’t shop your shares (exercised options) unless there’s a way to do it through the company

This list was described as a set of “social norms” within the Valley that are a “huge sin” if not followed.

The first item is the most surprising, as I constantly hear stories about friends leaving a company (both big and small) to go work on their own idea. It’s part of the myth of Silicon Valley, isn’t it?

#2 and #3 seem obvious and generally good practice in life. #4 I have no data points on.

If you have any feedback or thoughts, I’d love to hear it.

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