> I'll go against the grain and say that working in startups has been hugely overrated.
I don't think that's against the grain, and completely agree with the overrated part. The most surefire way for someone to become financially independent is to work in big tech. The money and job security is unmatched.
I've seen it said before that entrepreneurs don't start companies because they want to, but because they have to. Either they can't get those high paying jobs at a big corp or just can't deal with the BS. I found found this to be mostly true IME.
If someone can be a good corporate worker at any of the bigs techs, they should absolutely take that job over pretty much every other option.
Odd take. I guess if you're shitty at picking startups. I know so many people who have made multiple 7 figures across secondary sales in various Series A-B companies.
A VP at a fast growing SaaS company has millions in equity. Their comparable L-8 type position at BigCo won't give nearly the same upside.
It's easier to make mid-high six figures at BigCo. It's easier to make a few million at startups. Frankly, the most talented people I know (outside of in engineering) always inevitably leave BigCo for a startup.
BigCo is a far better place for more mediocre performers.
> Odd take. I guess if you're shitty at picking startups. I know so many people who have made multiple 7 figures across secondary sales in various Series A-B companies.
Sounds like those people are the most successful VCs ever and should consider a career switch with their ability to pick winners.
> A VP at a fast growing SaaS company has millions in equity. Their comparable L-8 type position at BigCo won't give nearly the same upside.
A VP at a fast growing SaaS company has millions in fake money. Their comparable L8 type position at Big Tech has ~700k-1 million yearly compensation in real money.
> It's easier to make mid-high six figures at BigCo. It's easier to make a few million at startups. Frankly, the most talented people I know (outside of in engineering) always inevitably leave BigCo for a startup.
Citation required. Who are these people? What were their exits? How many times did it take? Stories from a friend of a friend do not make compelling data.
> BigCo is a far better place for more mediocre performers.
The pool of available jobs at all start-ups dwarf what's available at Big Tech. It's very hard to argue that there's more mediocre people at Big Tech than start-ups.
I've been in several startups with really good product/market fit, really good teams/people, and good customers that still didn't make it. (Sometimes it has nothing to do with you, but just luck and the external world, e.g. 9/11 and the 2008/2009 crash.
Yes, it's possible to make millions in startups. Most don't. I've made a bit, and lost a lot. Over the entire span I've done startups, I'd probably have made more money in a solid, boring, big corp job (working for a year or two for near nothing lowers that average quite a bit), but I have no regrets, and I'd choose the startups again in a heartbeat, since they let me love my work in ways a big corp NEVER can. This rubs off on the entire team, which in a well-run startup, has a drive and cohesiveness that is nearly impossible to create in a big corp.
I hope to make big money in a startup (I'm working on another right now that needs a good all-around developer, since I've graduated my previous one to CTO at another company), but money is NOT the reason to do them. They're just way more fun and rewarding in the ways that matter. (Besides, I still own 88% of one dead company, 25% of another, and 40% of a third. Remember, equity is worth NOTHING until you liquidate it.
Money is fun but won't make you happy - I had a Ferrari for 25 years, but I'm quite happy with the much cheaper, but even speedier 15 year-old sports car I drive now, and to be fair, it's more reliable. (And doesn't track me everywhere like new cars do...)
Wow curious what sports car you have now as a former Ferrari owner?
What Ferrari model if you don’t mind me asking? Why did you let go of it?
Thoughts on Tesla’s instant torque? Would you consider electric for speed in your next sports car when the industry sunsets internal combustion engines?
I'll also add this - I've found that startups that have founders with industry experience are light years ahead of the rest.
I've worked at startups where they brag about not being a big company despite no one there even having ever worked at a big company. In hindsight, it should have been a big red flag.
I don't think that's against the grain, and completely agree with the overrated part. The most surefire way for someone to become financially independent is to work in big tech. The money and job security is unmatched.
I've seen it said before that entrepreneurs don't start companies because they want to, but because they have to. Either they can't get those high paying jobs at a big corp or just can't deal with the BS. I found found this to be mostly true IME.
If someone can be a good corporate worker at any of the bigs techs, they should absolutely take that job over pretty much every other option.