Why I Walked Away from $420K and Laid Off 5 People — The Hardest Decision I've Made as a Founder

Founder Fires · Jun 12, 2025 · 12m

I had to make a decision that wrecked me.

We spent 8 months building a product. $420K in revenue on the line. The team was hyped. We needed the cash.

However, I discovered that the partner we were integrating with was not being transparent. Unethical.

And I had to choose—look the other way and secure the bag, or stand on what we believe and pull the plug.

I pulled the plug.

Five people lost their jobs. I lost sleep. I questioned everything. But I knew I could live with that.

What I couldn't live with was selling out who we are just to survive.

Nobody talks about this side of the game. The…