The talent market is going to stay frothy until engineer salaries adjust up to stable equilibrium. The market is doing the rational thing, when Acquihires are w

The talent market is going to stay frothy until engineer salaries adjust up to stable equilibrium. The market is doing the rational thing, when Acquihires are worth $1M/engineer with a 3-4 year lock-in, while 'normal' salary offers are $150k. If you're talented enough to make a startup that can get acquihired, you absolutely should do it. Best case is you build a profitable company, worst case is you get acquired. Acquihires are also not the worst thing ever from an employer perspective. Big companies can easily spend $10M on failed initiatives that go nowhere. It's much easier to buy a startup that proves it can execute.