Skip to content

Comment on How the Digg team was acquihired

Comments

What's the leverage the old company has over its engineers when negotiating an acquihire? Why does the new company not approach the lead engineer and the selected employees directly?

Why does the new company not approach the lead engineer and the selected employees directly?

I'm guessing it's because tech is a small-ish world and no acquiring company wants to burn bridges (with the VCs) by doing that.

Non-competes, probably, are the easy way. Accusing the potential acquirer of acting in bad faith also happens.

Also, a loyal and cohesive team can do the "we go together or we don't go" move.

I am not fully convinced.

That cohesive team, why would it make money for the old company and its investors? That signing bonus can be split entirely among themselves.

Non-competes are not allowed in California. And in any other location, the team can wait it out because the company most likely ceases existing.

AboutSource Built by g1lg1l

Hackerly is an independent reader for Hacker News, built on the public HN API. Not affiliated with Y Combinator.