Imagine you’ve finally found success with a startup you’ve been working on tirelessly. You want to thank your friends for their support and plan to give them thoughtful, generous gifts. But what if those friends suddenly get greedy and demand more? That’s exactly what happened to this entrepreneur, who now faces a dilemma and a potential lawsuit. Let’s dive into the story and see how it all unfolded.
The Startup Journey

Friends in the Beginning

Grateful Gifts Planned

Eric’s Filmmaker Dream

Henry’s Courtside Treat

Robert’s Cash Demands

The Girlfriend’s Reveal ️

Rumors and Accusations

Henry’s Disappointment

Setting the Record Straight

Ownership and Investment

Gifts, Not Paychecks

Lockdown Delays

Threats and Ultimatums

To Cut Them Off or Not?

From Gratitude to Greed: Friends’ True Colors Revealed
In an attempt to show appreciation for their early support, our entrepreneur planned generous gifts for his friends. But when Robert and Henry caught wind of the startup’s success, their gratitude turned to entitlement and greed. Now, with threats of lawsuits and demands for a bigger piece of the pie, our protagonist must decide whether to cut ties with these once-supportive friends. So, what does the internet think of this sticky situation? Let’s check out the top responses!
Startup founder’s friends demand ‘fair share’ of gifts, but didn’t invest. NTA.

NTA. Generosity shouldn’t lead to entitlement.

NTA. Friends helped early on, but not entitled to money.

INFO needed to determine if friends deserve equity or gift.

Friends worked for free, now demand more? Founder NTA.

Friends demand more money for free-time support in startup.

Calculating fair compensation for friends’ contributions can avoid drama.

Commenter questions founder’s gratitude towards friends for startup success.

Founder’s refusal to pay early employees backfires, deemed TA

Startup founder shuts down greedy friends with NTA comment ♂️

Startup founder faces tough questions about equity and friendship

Generous founder refuses to give in to entitled friends

Legal advice needed for startup founder’s compensation dispute.

Unpaid work or not, are gifts a fair compensation?

Startup founder stands up to entitled friends.

Fair wages or future riches? The ethics of startup success
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/35136a22-84d8-4280-a589-ad1a049b722a.png)
Startup founder navigates gift-giving drama with grace. NTA.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/de1d09a2-e73b-4379-94e5-f7d0a5c37db6.png)
Unanswered questions about compensation and collateral in gift-giving drama

Founder accused of being stingy with friends. Defenders speak up.

Entrepreneur explains why friends aren’t entitled to profit sharing

Friends demand more after startup success, but commenter advises against it.

Startup equity explained: leave early, get less. NTA comment.

Founder accused of flexing by throwing party for underperforming friend. ESH

Are they entitled to gifts for just being friends?

Startup founder stands firm on gift-giving drama. NTA
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/4fd7d11d-2fc1-4606-b89c-7f7f6e98b02e.png)
Friends demand share in startup success without contributing financially

Expert questions the value of financial contributions vs intellectual property.

Generous founder suggests book gift to ungrateful friends. NTA

Founder’s guilt over profiting leads to gift-giving drama.

Toxic friends? Empty threats of lawsuits? Time to find new friends!

When friends demand more money, NTA says block them

Protect yourself legally even if you’re NTA

Commenter challenges friends to sue over work dispute

Legal advice may be your best bet in this situation.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/e4e520be-157b-470f-a397-d39bedca69c2.png)
Friend upset over gift, commenter suggests petty revenge at game

Get legal advice before gifting equity. Don’t give in to pressure.

Founder called out leech friends, deemed not the a**hole

This founder has a supportive friend in Eric

Founder’s friends demand more money after success, but NTA prevails.

Commenter deems person in story not the a-hole, suggests subreddit.

Business student shares personal experience and supports OP’s NTA decision.

Startup founder sets boundaries for entitled friends.

Don’t let entitled friends bring you down. NTA
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/5afc47c4-3101-4370-99bf-63b5455a8888.png)
Generous founder faces entitled friends demanding more. NTA prevails.

Startup founder faces legal threats over gift-giving drama

Startup founder faces legal threats from entitled friends. NTA.

Great advice received, no a**holes here!

Cutting off toxic friends is the ultimate gift ❌

Stand your ground and cut off toxic friends if necessary

Legal action without a contract? NTA has a point

Cutting off toxic friends? NTA, let them sue

Don’t let jealous friends bring you down. NTA

Real friends won’t demand more money after your success

Seek legal advice, not Reddit, for gift-giving drama

Unpacking entitlement in gift-giving.

Money changes people. NTA needs a lawyer to stay ahead.

Generous founder deals with greedy ex-friends. NTA

OP is not the a**hole and should consider consulting a lawyer

Legal action against demanding friends (NTA) suggested.

Generous founder faces entitled friends demanding more gifts

Founder stands up to entitled friends demanding more money. NTA

Friend’s entitlement over founder’s success, commenter defends NTA stance
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/dbf0d4d2-96b9-4a1c-a935-3351aef6a6b6.png)
Supportive comment for Eric’s film-making dreams

Eric receives praise for unknown reason ♂️

Keep the good ones, drop the greedy.

Friendship is not a transaction NTA comment

Confusing comment with no context

Friends demand more money after success, but NTA has valid point.
