'Why I Had to Fire My Co-founder, CEO and Close Friend' Rumpl CEO Wylie Robinson looks back on one of the toughest conversations of his life -- and what you can learn from it.
By Wylie Robinson •
This story appears in the November 2018 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
At 3 am on June 13, 2016, I sat wide awake in bed. The most difficult conversation of my life was scheduled for 9 a.m., when I'd fire my co-founder, CEO and close friend from the company we had built together, Rumpl.
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We started the business in January 2014, after we came up with the idea to make cozy blankets that felt like sleeping bags -- more comfortable, more durable, less annoying than duvets. We enjoyed quick success, raising nearly a quarter-million dollars via Kickstarter. Our product received praise from our earliest customers, which resulted in partnerships with several premium retail channels and strong direct sales.