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I have yet to meet a funded startup (YC or otherwise) that wouldn’t match the cash component of salary to within $20k of a FAANG salary+RSU schedule, so long as

I have yet to meet a funded startup (YC or otherwise) that wouldn’t match the cash component of salary to within $20k of a FAANG salary+RSU schedule, so long as you have said offer in hand when negotiating (and thus, the equity becomes much more of potential bonus than lottery ticket you depend on ). Maybe pre-seed-stage startups pay much less, but I really haven’t run into any issues around feeling like I’m missing out on significant salary benefits, so FIRE seems to still hold. External validation and PR — eh. My own experience differs, in tech and outside of tech. Personally, way back when, I turned down multiple Ivies to attend a small liberal arts college relatively few have heard about and have absolutely no regrets — people who have actually affected my life have heard of it, and I think it’s gotten me to where I am much faster and easier than going the conventional route.

kyawzazaw 6y ago
Those startup are equally (if not harder) to get in. So I am not sure what you are trying to compare against. > people who have actually affected my life have heard of it I mean that is probably true and will be true for many. This also means that you are in a social network of people who are sort of knowledgable and somewhat well off. I am sure the undergrad education at Grinnell or Haverford is on average pretty much the same at Harvard or Princeton. More so with computer science, nobody is learning more exclusive algorithms at these more name brand schools. But clearly, you can't deny the name brand factor that positively influences many other ventures.