A Founder Dispute Network (FDN) is a new safety strategy designed to help care for and protect startup founder members from co-founder conflict. According to Noam Wasserman, the bestselling author of The Founder’s Dilemma, some “65% of startups fail because of co-founder conflict”. Using an FDN, we hope to reduce these startling statistics and make it more enjoyable for team members participating in a startup.
how it works
Founders wishing to participate, join the network by agreeing to the code of behavior or rules of the network (our FDN is Disputz.com and our code of behavior Object123). When any two members have a dispute arising from misbehavior, and it cannot be resolved using the agreed rules of engagement, the dispute is automatically posted on the network for any interested members to review and comment.
If the dispute remains unresolved, then a group “room” is organized for a zoom call, where up to 8 members listen to both sides of the dispute. The room then votes, makes a recommendation and posts it on the network.
WHY it works
The code of behavior require team members to OBJECT, direct, and in real-time to behavior that they find offensive or makes them feel uncomfortable. That’s it! It does not need hundreds of dos and don’ts. The disputing members suspend their discussion as they resolve the dispute that the offending behavior has caused. If the dispute cannot be resolved after following the three-step objection drill, it is automatically posted on the network.
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” When team members realize that their behavior can be exposed, they will likely want to resolve the dispute before it escalates to this level. The offender will understand that the best way to resolve a dispute caused by their behavior is to swallow their pride and acknowledge it before the dispute escalates the second and third steps.
Object123 
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