Offer Choice AWS vs Pre-IPO Company
I recently got 2 offers, one from AWS, the other from a pre-ipo company(B). TC AWS is 15% less according to the current stock price,. Also the (B) company's base is 20% more . It's kind of the best two offers I could get in my city. TC/WLB wise, (B) makes more sense. But in the other hand AWS's interview is much harder than (B). I prepared so hard and felt lucky to get their offer this time. If B goes wrong again(it did go bad before, but recently refilled with a large funding), I might feel regret for giving up AWS opportunity. If B goes public, I might get a fruitful reward. Because I am not that young any more. It's kind of a life time decision to myself. FANG career growth vs a well-know startup, so I want to hear some suggestions from you. Thanks!
TC or GTFO
Pre-ipo companies are always available in the market. You can always go to one regardless of what stage in your career you are given you have a solid background. AWS will give you that background so go for 2-4 ride with AWS, make the best out of it and hopefully by then another pre-ipo will try to recruit you
With 2-3 years AWS experience, your resume will have more shine, so it’s hard to go wrong. Pre-IPO can be really stressful and weird shit can happen instantly. Do you want that stress? Of course, if it’s a homerun IPO you’ll beat yourself up :)
Are you counting pre-ipo “stocks” as part of the tc ? And ignoring the fact that amazon is sign on bonus heavy in first two years? The math I do is stock at startup 20-50% value (depending on how much I believe there really is an ipo coming soon and stock price won’t suffer) If there’s no clear liquidation event in sight I don’t bother counting it. That’s the sad but realistic way to look at non traded stock Plus what you mentioned - it did go bad before = growth problem at some point and had to become “lean” and cut people. They could have learnt from it and it could be a trend towards rounds of investing... Without position and tc it’s hard to say (feel free to dm , I worked for startups before amazon) but to me it sounds like the choice is obvious
Is the startup CK? If it is CK, it will be a homerun, don't join AWS. Nevertheless, it is difficult to make a call without you naming startup. If it is anything like CK, you should take it over AWS just for the money
Which pre IPO company? If its airbnb then go for it. Otherwise amazon any day
Name B and actual tc numbers please. Share some