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But isn't the end result the same? Joining an existing startup as an engineer is NOT financially beneficial. Just do the math: An average post-series A startup

But isn't the end result the same? Joining an existing startup as an engineer is NOT financially beneficial. Just do the math: An average post-series A startup has 10% chance of success and an average acquisition price is around $50M. Now, when you're joining as an engineer how much do you get in equity? Much less than just 1%, yet you're losing a lot of potential earning power and, most importantly, you're investing 100% of your raw intellectual potential in it (good startups suck it all out of you). So... while at a startup you are: not working on your own projects, not making as much $$$ as you could have, and the payoff is what? 10% chance of making $50K in 3 years?

mikeryan 17y ago
He never said he was looking for an exit, he's looking to immerse himself in the culture.
- gnosis 17y ago
  If he can't find culture in NYC, he's not going to find it in SF.
raganwald 17y ago
> But isn't the end result the same? Zed thinks so: Now obviously the SF companies are all really looking for an employee to make them rich. The difference is in their approach and how they don’t say it so blatantly or in such a gigantic douchebag way.
kls 17y ago
Crap dude you just summed my life up in a paragraph. 3 start ups, all sold and the most I ever pulled was 100k for my efforts. I did however make a comparable wage to developers in established businesses so it did not hit me so hard in the earning potential; but you are right about the intellectual capital spent. Once the risk of failure starts to subside the amount investors are willing to part with follows a similar curve. If you are going to get in, it has been my experience that, ground floor is the only place that you will see any significant chance of getting to anywhere better than well off or comfortable.
- riffer 17y ago
  Being part of three successful startups must have taught you a ton, though. Certainly more than being a drone.
  - deleted 17y ago
    [deleted]
  - kls 17y ago
    Most assuredly, I absolutely don't want anyone to take away that it was a completely negative experience. Those where some of the best times in my career. Every change you make, you can literally feel the money role in and you are in complete control of the decision making process. You are in it together and it is a conquer the world attitude. The best friends I have ever made, where bonds built in those companies. That said, I think the parent posters comment is often overlooked by the inexperienced, in the quest for the one hit. I am now a VP of a fortune 100 company due to the experience I gained in those companies and my track record of hitting it 3 times. I just wanted to highlight that even upon success, if the timing of entry is not right you may only walk out with some good resume fodder and enough to float you to the next gig.
davi 17y ago
The math is right but misses the point: to learn how to do your own startup. To learn from what the founders are doing right and wrong, and to start building up your own network of contacts, in preparation for striking out on your own. Plus if you're not really into the premise of the startup you're working for, you should probably quit right away. And if you are really into it, well, then, that's worth something right there.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]

mikeryan 17y ago

He never said he was looking for an exit, he's looking to immerse himself in the culture.

gnosis 17y ago
If he can't find culture in NYC, he's not going to find it in SF.

raganwald 17y ago

> But isn't the end result the same? Zed thinks so: Now obviously the SF companies are all really looking for an employee to make them rich. The difference is in their approach and how they don’t say it so blatantly or in such a gigantic douchebag way.

kls 17y ago

Crap dude you just summed my life up in a paragraph. 3 start ups, all sold and the most I ever pulled was 100k for my efforts. I did however make a comparable wage to developers in established businesses so it did not hit me so hard in the earning potential; but you are right about the intellectual capital spent. Once the risk of failure starts to subside the amount investors are willing to part with follows a similar curve. If you are going to get in, it has been my experience that, ground floor is the only place that you will see any significant chance of getting to anywhere better than well off or comfortable.

riffer 17y ago
Being part of three successful startups must have taught you a ton, though. Certainly more than being a drone.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
- kls 17y ago
  Most assuredly, I absolutely don't want anyone to take away that it was a completely negative experience. Those where some of the best times in my career. Every change you make, you can literally feel the money role in and you are in complete control of the decision making process. You are in it together and it is a conquer the world attitude. The best friends I have ever made, where bonds built in those companies. That said, I think the parent posters comment is often overlooked by the inexperienced, in the quest for the one hit. I am now a VP of a fortune 100 company due to the experience I gained in those companies and my track record of hitting it 3 times. I just wanted to highlight that even upon success, if the timing of entry is not right you may only walk out with some good resume fodder and enough to float you to the next gig.

davi 17y ago

The math is right but misses the point: to learn how to do your own startup. To learn from what the founders are doing right and wrong, and to start building up your own network of contacts, in preparation for striking out on your own. Plus if you're not really into the premise of the startup you're working for, you should probably quit right away. And if you are really into it, well, then, that's worth something right there.

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]