Last Thursday it was the 3rd annual startups Christmas party at TechCube. Just one day prior, a cofounder from a Scottish startup had walked away after being offered to sign an investment deal.
Negotiations had been going on for months. No one can last that long, unless has substantial savings, takes a loan, his partner/family supports him or has a part time job to cover his living expenses.
It wasn't an easy decision. When you sacrifise that much for that long, it's hard letting go. You have doubts. Doubts about the choice you are about to make. You feel its weight on your shoulders; growing heavy. Accumulated by the moral obligation to your cofounders and people that have invested time in you.
The deal would keep the startup on life support and earn a title. Something to put on a résumé. A badge of honour. Not what you had in mind when you embarked on this endeavour. Signing it would mean lying to yourself, your cofounders, your investors. Far from what you had asked for in the first place.