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?
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...)