Feeling stuck in a remote team project. Should I leave? (I will not promote)

I’m a university student with one year left before I graduate. Earlier this year, around spring 2025, I joined a remote early-stage project after connecting online with someone. There are four of us working on it now, all with equal roles. We’ve never met in person and everything happens remotely.

I actually like the idea behind the project and I enjoy the experience of being involved in something from the ground up. It’s taught me a lot and I’ve been able to do real work that challenges me.

The problem is the people. Every time I try to give input or suggest improvements, I get pushed aside or told I’m overstepping. I feel like I’m not being treated as an equal, even though we all share the same stake. More than an employe with some equity (we all have equal equity btw).

What also worries me is that the person leading the technical side doesn’t really have any coding or software background, yet the others fully rely on him to build the product. He was brought in by another teammate, and I’ve had a hard time trusting that he can deliver what’s needed.

I don’t have anything personal against them, but the dynamic is draining me. I still believe in the idea, but I feel disconnected and frustrated by how things are run. It’s like I’m not heard, I’m not actually growing as a person, I feel like Im in a box with just some roles and duties, my inputs are not taken, the team dynamic is just weird and very robotic like

I’ve been debating whether I should walk away and focus on other things I care about, or stick around and hope it improves. If you’ve been in a similar situation, how did you decide what to do?