I have mixed feelings about this. Jet started up next to the town where I live, and after growing for a while they moved to the town where I used to live. I'd been watching their job postings since early on, and I probably could've gotten hired early. Their recruiter recently reached out to me, so I could probably still get hired there.
If they get bought out, I'd have missed out on potentially a very nice options payout. But then I'd have to find a new job, because I definitely wouldn't want to work for Wal-Mart. So I guess I'm happy with the decision to stay where I am, despite some of the drawbacks of working for a really tiny non-startup company. (Not that there aren't good perks too.)
For those of you who spend your careers in startups, how do you feel about new owners after a buy out? If you have reservations about them, do you stick around and see how it goes, or head straight for the exit?
Being acquired is always seen as this awesome thing but it can be terrible for a lot of people. I didn't have enough equity to make enough to buy a used Honda Civic. I don't care for the culture of the new company but I'm still working there. Pretty much everyone on my direct team left, found a new position in the new company, or were let go. The same thing happened in most areas. Our founders did take care of us by ensuring we get 4 weeks of vacation instead of having to wait 15 years for that, so that's something. Another plus is that I managed to double my startup salary.
If they get bought out, I'd have missed out on potentially a very nice options payout. But then I'd have to find a new job, because I definitely wouldn't want to work for Wal-Mart. So I guess I'm happy with the decision to stay where I am, despite some of the drawbacks of working for a really tiny non-startup company. (Not that there aren't good perks too.)
For those of you who spend your careers in startups, how do you feel about new owners after a buy out? If you have reservations about them, do you stick around and see how it goes, or head straight for the exit?