Re:Ask HN: Tech and product co-founder in a dilemma after ra...
by ealexhudson on Tuesday January 17, 2023 @04:46AM
(#34410746)
Never hire externally at seed, you're not a mature enough organisation (unless there is a specific individual you have in mind who would be a natural fit for some other reason).
If you're leading the product development you're going to find it difficult to do a CEO-type role. Usually you need someone in the business building solutions to customer problems - that's you - and someone else going out into the world finding customers and selling the product. You don't mention who your cofounder is, but if they're the going-out-selling person then it's more natural for them to be CEO.
If they're not, and you don't have a going-out-selling person, when you really need to figure out how you're going to connect with customers and everything else should come second.
If you're leading the product development you're going to find it difficult to do a CEO-type role. Usually you need someone in the business building solutions to customer problems - that's you - and someone else going out into the world finding customers and selling the product. You don't mention who your cofounder is, but if they're the going-out-selling person then it's more natural for them to be CEO.
If they're not, and you don't have a going-out-selling person, when you really need to figure out how you're going to connect with customers and everything else should come second.