I've done both and there are pros/cons for both tracks. Currently at a startup - it can be total chaos with crazy highs and ridiculous lows. You have to love solving problems and particularly the problem your company is solving. You realize at big companies you have more resources in theory but while there's a department or someone to do whatever you need, there's also internal politics that tends to come w/ bigger orgs to access the resources, move up etc. At a startup you figure out how to help fill those gaps and do things that aren't in your job description because everyone has to just figure it out and yeah that can be exhausting, but it can also feel really good when you get stuff done. If your bet pays off, it can really pay off but it's important to take a hard look at the risks the company is up against to make sure the upside is there and realistic. I'll also add, my closest friendships in business have been from my startup experience.
Ask HN: FOMO by working in startups only vs. Big companies
91–95 of 95 posts
Re: Ask HN: FOMO by working in startups only vs. Big companies
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 mos…
In the context of engineering: > 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 po…
Who said anything about exits? People are getting rich with ESOP and secondary sales. You seem to be ignoring an entire industry of early liquidation.
I'll reiterate: top performers get rich at startups. Mediocre performers get moderately wealthy at BigCo.
Re: Ask HN: FOMO by working in startups only vs. Big companies
#93I disagree with the people who say you're not missing anything working at large companies. Of course it depends on which, but there's great learning opportunities supporting a product used by millions (hundreds of millions). It's a shock to go from this edge case will most likely never happen because we have at most 5 request per second to this edge case is happening every minute because we have 5000 requests per sec…
The biggest learning opportunities at a large company are office politics, red tape, and bureaucracy.
Re: Ask HN: FOMO by working in startups only vs. Big companies
#94Earlier quoted context omitted.
In the context of engineering: > 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 po…
Who said anything about exits? People are getting rich with ESOP and secondary sales. You seem to be ignoring an entire industry of early liquidation. I'll reiterate: top performers get rich at startups. Mediocre performers get moderately wealthy at BigCo.
Any form of exit for employees, including secondary sales. Please provide data for your claim. Reiterating things don't make them anymore true.
Re: Ask HN: FOMO by working in startups only vs. Big companies
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
Who said anything about exits? People are getting rich with ESOP and secondary sales. You seem to be ignoring an entire industry of early liquidation. I'll reiterate: top performers get rich at startups. Mediocre performers get moderately wealthy at BigCo.
Any form of exit for employees, including secondary sales. Please provide data for your claim. Reiterating things don't make them anymore true.
You didn't provide any data, why would I?