The situation
A founder at Coursio was effectively held hostage by an investor acting in bad faith. Without a clean exit from the relationship, the company had no future.
Distressed · 2019 Q2–Q3 · Sweden
Founder trapped by a hostile VC. Cleaned up the company, brought in my investor network and negotiated to within $50,000 of a buyout. After I left, my groundwork was used to complete the buyout — at worse terms.
Role · Founder advocate / negotiator
The situation
A founder at Coursio was effectively held hostage by an investor acting in bad faith. Without a clean exit from the relationship, the company had no future.
The work
Cleaned up the corporate housekeeping that was being used as leverage.
Opened up my investor network to give the founder real alternatives.
Negotiated with the bad-faith investor to within $50,000 of a deal — neither side wanted to budge the last inch.
Outcome
After my departure my work was used to raise money and buy out the bad-faith investor — saving the founder, but at materially worse terms than I had negotiated.
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