Can anyone help - I think my DH is destroying his future

[itscaroline]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here, but my D is currently working at a very new company which is creating a website/app that reminds people of when relatives/friends birthdays are, and then recommends gifts to send (which can be purchased and sent using the app/website with wrapping paper and a card etc). He says one of the biggest features would be that during Christmas, larger families would all be grouped together so that all the sender would have to do is select the best recommendation that the app gives for each , and then click send (it remembers addresses etc). I think he also mentioned some little quirk where families could record video messages to other families and access it on their phone by scanning a QR code on the back of cards that came with the gift. Anyway, the reason I‘m asking you for your opinion is because this is a very early stage company and I don‘t want him getting involved (and not taking a safer job ) if it seems like the type of thing no one would use. Any insights/thoughts would be hugely appreciated as I‘ve made the wrong decision before and don‘t want him to repeat my mistakes!

Bump

Doesn’t sound like a great business proposition at all IMO. There are already “reminder” sites, and it’s very unlikely that the gifts for sale via this proposed one will appeal to people more than (good prices, wide selection) large online retailers.

“Destroying his future” seems extreme! If he has good skills presumably if things don’t work out he can get another job?

Do you have DC? If so I have more sympathy with your concern.

Couldn’t he do both? (Ie a steady job and work on the app in the evenings).

It doesn’t sound a bad idea, but who would the app know what, say my aunt would want for her birthday? Would it assume as she’s a 60 year old woman it would be flowers/perfume/chocolate/wine?

There's a bunch of these sites already out there that do most, if not all, of what you've described.

MN has a process for people joining solely to ask about a business proposition. I suggest you follow that.

Is he not getting paid a wage for working there?

I think you are focusing too much in your post on what the app does and have not given enough information on your husband’s part in the company or what your actual problem is.

How much does he get paid?
Do you work?
Have you got children?
Is he getting a share of any profits?
Does he have another job too?

This is what we need to know to advise you. Not whether there is a wrapping paper option.

The app does not sound like a good idea if that's what you want to know.

Hi guys, thanks for the responses, the reason I ask is because it‘s with a group of close university friends, and I don‘t want him to go down a rabbit hole when there are more reliable paths that he could take that would guarantee security etc. P.s. yes, I suppose I was a little OTT with the destroying part but I just can‘t bare to see him pursue something that is unlikely to work in place of other things.

I can't see that working, OP. There's nothing personal about the gifts, is there? And it sounds like a lot of hard work for the customers.

I don't think you need worry providing he's getting paid. Lots of people in IT go through one or two failures which is hugely helpful in working out what was wrong and what could have gone better (a very transferable skill). On top of which people in IT do move around a lot. And while there are already some programmes and apps that do this, there's always a better mousetrap.

He’s foolhardy if he’s not being paid, or paid a pittance.