Should You Join a Startup? The Answer Is Increasingly Yes

http://www.arcticstartup.com/2011/09/05/should-you-join-a-startup-the-answer-is-increasingly-yes

by Kavan • 15 years ago

9 4 15 years ago

amirmc• 15 years ago

While I like the article, a couple of things stood out for me.

"…the investors are likely to want to pull you to another rocketing startup."

I think this is only true if you actually get to interact with the investors and information is shared. If not, there's no reason the investors know you apart from anyone else.

"Oh, and you might also get rich while at it by being one of the early employees with options to show for it. But consider that only as an extra gravy on top."

This has been discussed a lot recently and folks should also read the related HN threads. IMHO startups should not really be saying this kind of stuff. It's a little disingenuous. Previous HN thread http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2958766

varunsrin• 15 years ago

"There's really a myriad of reasons, but the unintuitive answer to the ' which one is more secure job' question is increasingly the startup."

It's just plain wrong to be saying things like this - working at a startup is fun, exciting & you learn a ton - but don't encourage people to ignore the risks they take.

If you join an early startup there is always a risk - I had a friend who signed on as a 5th employee, found an apartment in California (he was from the east coast) and made a down payment on it - after which they told him the company was going to shut down and cancelled his offer without so much as covering his down payment.

There are very real risks that you take on joining an early stage company (which is where you learn the most) - so please, don't ignore the risks. Don't bet everything on success - start ups fail, and fail often. Make sure you can afford to lose, if the risk you take doesn't pan out.

"The investors are likely to want to pull you to another rocketing startup."

Don't blindly bet on the investors pulling you into another startup - if it happens, you're a lucky individual, but more often than not, you'll be on your own.

EDIT: typos

Kavan• 15 years ago

Totally agree. Startups are bets. You may win or you may lose.

I think the point is that the upside is huge, although unlikely. While failure, the more likely path, still means you learn a lot and make a lot of great contacts that can help you with the next venture.

IMHO, as long as you don't bet too big (if you lose your job for a month you lose your house), the risk is well worth it.

politician• 15 years ago

Based on my HNducation, I'd say this one is a bit too pollyannaish (as in, "even if we fail, it'll be grrrreat!").

Should You Join a Startup? The Answer Is Increasingly Yes

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