If you're still struggling with burnout and concerned your motivations and desires aren't going to line up with the company founder(s)' motivations, then listen

If you're still struggling with burnout and concerned your motivations and desires aren't going to line up with the company founder(s)' motivations, then listen to your gut! You know you the best, and you seem to be saying--via your post--you're unsure about jumping into the startup world at this point in time. I understand where you're coming from, I've worked at BigCo. as well. If you want an opportunity that offers learning opportunities, task ownership, growth potential, and some policies of an established business (work/life balance, for instance), why don't you take a look at a small, growing "post-startup" company with <50 people? For purposes of clarification, post startup being defined as: Has at least one viable product or service being sold to and used by customers, established sources of revenue, corporate financial stability, been in existence for several years, and some level of defined business/HR practices. You get the benefits of working for a small company without the stresses of being in constant start up mode. Such companies do exist, the industry they work in might not be glamorous and you will have to dig to find them, but if you find one you mesh well with, you'll learn alot. The most important part of this whole process is to ask questions about issues you care about and if you don't like the answer they give, ask a more penetrating follow up. Always make sure to ask to speak with someone you'd be working with, they'll have a trench level view of the system. And, at the end of the day, if you don't feel comfortable with the place and don't think you'd jive with their work environment, you don't have to take the gig. :) tl,dr: Such places do exist, they just probably aren't startups, and you're going to have to dig to find 'em.