I worked as a self taught software engineer for over the last decade starting from junior and climbing my way to seniority at small startups, some where I was the first engineering hire, some where I was employee #30-50. Last year for the first time I made the jump to BigCo for the first time. I am seriously loving it. People are more professional. Surprisingly diversity is higher IMO - startups can easily become culture fit clubs as they try to build a brand.

Here’s my ranking

1) working at YOUR OWN startup/for yourself

2) working at big co

3) working at a startup owned by someone else