4 ms·

Ask HN: Start a Startup or Join One?

I am a former FANG software engineer who left his job a few months ago to take a sabbatical. I have always wanted to do a startup but recently I am opening up to the idea of joining a startup. Primarily because :- 1. Through working for a few years I now know some promising early startups run by people I like & respect 2. I would learn from them and would get to build a lot 3. Have some structure in life, the problem statement would be decided and early on I can be pure execution as I increase ownership 4. They're in a space that I am interested in but don't understand, so would learn about the domain name. At the same side on the startup side 1. I don't have a co-founder 2. I have ideas that I am interested in but I don't have something that I want to commit 10 years to. I have some ideas in which I see quick revenue but don't see them IPO'ing while others are bigger longer term but seem like a struggle to start. 3. If things work out the financial upside is massive compared to an early employee. At seed / series A startups I'd have to be lucky to get anything over a few percentage points of equity. Overall, when I had joining big tech (or a hedge-fund), startup or starting one as options the first option "big tech" seemed like the easiest thing to do. Now joining one seems like the easiest thing to do.

EddieDante 4y ago
If you're going to work your ass off at a startup, you ought to at least be able to call yourself the owner/founder. Why bust your ass for some other asshole's startup? If you're going to make some other cunt's dream a reality, you ought to at least get a steady paycheck and a W-2 out of it.
- break_the_bank 4y ago
  That part I agree with heavily. The upside on starting one vs being the first/second employee is massive. At the same time if Travis Kalanick/ Mark Zuckerberg hire me as the first engineer then the odds of financial success go up massively.
- mtmail 4y ago
  Why are founders assholes and cunts?
  - sharemywin 4y ago
    aside from the words, 60x higher payout as well as usually better terms should things not pan out. aka a seat at the table if not complete control in negotiating even an acquihire. seems like huge fall off in value and power between possibly a few months of time between a co-founder and employee 1. with that said, if you can't sell it then it's probably worthless. alot of tech founders assume if they build it they will come and that usually isn't the case.
  - EddieDante 4y ago
    Because I hold the vast majority of startup founders and VCs in contempt.

EddieDante 4y ago

If you're going to work your ass off at a startup, you ought to at least be able to call yourself the owner/founder. Why bust your ass for some other asshole's startup? If you're going to make some other cunt's dream a reality, you ought to at least get a steady paycheck and a W-2 out of it.

break_the_bank 4y ago
That part I agree with heavily. The upside on starting one vs being the first/second employee is massive. At the same time if Travis Kalanick/ Mark Zuckerberg hire me as the first engineer then the odds of financial success go up massively.
mtmail 4y ago
Why are founders assholes and cunts?
- sharemywin 4y ago
  aside from the words, 60x higher payout as well as usually better terms should things not pan out. aka a seat at the table if not complete control in negotiating even an acquihire. seems like huge fall off in value and power between possibly a few months of time between a co-founder and employee 1. with that said, if you can't sell it then it's probably worthless. alot of tech founders assume if they build it they will come and that usually isn't the case.
- EddieDante 4y ago
  Because I hold the vast majority of startup founders and VCs in contempt.