Ask HN: Is it okay to run two companies (one VC funded, another a side gig)

1 point·mrg3_2013··4 comments

Is this frowned upon ? Assume the other side gig is a small one with no relation to the funded one. Funded one needs scale and people. Other is a small gig, with potential

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How do you plan to allocate your hours? Will you have the time to do two very important full-time jobs, with both possibly requiring your overtime, and also have time for your own personal life requirements like sleep, eating, relaxation?

I see burn-out in your future, and very likely quite soon.

My thinking was 80-20 with 80% going to the VC funded one. The thing is, the other idea has low prob of success with much bigger potential. So want to have a 'play' until I am wrong.

Depends on your employment contracts and jurisdiction of law. As long as you’re not violating any legal stipulation of either it’s above board in my opinion. Many places have moonlighting clauses to give some coverage of this.

VCs and boards will look at this negatively. Their expectation is that you are 100% focused on the company they backed.

By definition, you cannot be 100% focused on their company if you have two jobs.

There are exceptions when companies are performing well and founders have an exceptional track record (see: Jack Dorsey square/Twitter, Elon’s multiple ceo roles, etc)

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