How do you fire a startup employee?
lsc: be gentile, but firm.Don't lie to him, but don't be an asshole or act like it's all his fault.    The valley is very small.   Like it or not, this guy will be the face of your company for some time to come.   You will almost certainly work with someone else who knows that person in the future.Personally, when I have to fire someone, the way I see it, it was primarily my mistake.   I chose the wrong person for the job.  I mean, I'm still going to let them go, but I do it with the attitude that it was me who screwed up.