Burned out at startup: worth staying for the money?
Evening blind.
I work at a startup, joined very early, and I’m burned out as hell, I’m truly not motivated to do any work here any more, don’t like the work, don’t like the people, don’t like the management.
I have an E5 offer at FB for 180 base/15% bonus/600k RSU in 5y/75k signon, and a Netflix offer for 400k cash.
The startup is currently paying me 230k cash and my equity is worth on paper 3M (I’ve done the accurate math, considering the option price, current dilution and everything), of which I vested 1M, so I’d keep that with me in case I leave.
Is it worth leaving that money (still not liquid, but relatively safe, I’ve had multiple investors offering to buy some of my shares at basically that price in secondary transactions) to pursue something better from a work quality point of view? The startup is also still growing, roughly doubling every 9-12 months, so in the best case the equity could grow still 2-3X in a couple years.
8 year of experience.
comments
When I say corporate I mean more like “Cisco” than Netflix, if that makes sense.
I’d probably stay and just slow down your work schedule to not burn out and take a good vacation. You should have enough institutional knowledge to be efficient with your hours.
If you choose to leave, sell some to investors before leaving if you need the cash. It’s easier IMO while still employed there
If you are my coworker or not. Just go to FB or Netflix, I’m starting interviewing myself.