I believe in what the startup does but they are at very early stages and the salary they offer is 1/3 of what Google offers but I get about 6% options over 4 years.
Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
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Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#2Choose Google.
If the startup can only offer you 1/3 the pay, we can infer that their equity isn't worth very much, or investors would have given them more money.
So you believe in the startup. That's great. It's great to believe in writing good software. It's wrong that someone would want to exploit that for their own gain. It very strongly sounds like what you're being offered is a pittance. Don't sell your dreams for that little, because someone that will offer you so little for your dreams isn't worth working for.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#3Assuming you are very early in your career, take the google money now and invest. When you know what you're doing with respect to the market and have more connections and a bit of a financial base, then do a startup.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#4I've been in a similar situation with more upside – I suggest pulling up a retirement calculator and seeing where you are financially compared to where you want to be.
If you're interested in hearing more about the difference in cultures, and how that will feel after some time, feel free to reply with a place I can contact you privately.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#5Go work at Google for 2-3 years, save some money then start your own startup if you feel like it.
Being an early employee at a startup is usually not worth it.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#6Where are you in your career, what is your personal financial situation, what is your family situation (wife? kids?), what stage is the startup (revenue?), etc, etc. Need a lot more details. Fwiw, 6% is an unusually high equity package unless they just started the company.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#7Advice from someone who had a similar choice and went the startup route: choose the Google option. It will not only open doors for you for all your future jobs, but you can invest the money now and create a nice start for yourself.
There will never be any shortage of interesting startups to work for in the future.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#8Don't be greedy. Google is a gold-plated brand name that will offer tens if not hundreds of individuals smarter than you.
6% options is about average for a co-founder-level tech lead at a very small company.
You have to be realistic about your expectations for equity. It is more likely the company gets acquired than goes IPO. If the company gets acquired for $100M, then you may bring home around $4M post tax.
What is the company's competitive advantage? Usually, especially in AI/ML, it is the people already working there. Who is working there that will be smarter and more experienced than you that you can learn from?
Or will you be the chief cook and bottle washer?
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#9If you care about the compensation, go with Google.
If you feel like the startup is doing something unbelievable and you want to be onboard, go with them.
Google will still be around in a few years, and if you got an offer from them now you are likely to be able to get one again in the future.