Take startup offer or stay at Google
On a pretty high impact team at Google. L5. Really enjoy the work and the team. 6YOE. Startup is pretty small (<50 people). Product seems likely to succeed.
No but it is in the AI space.
AI is the “hot new thing” so the market can be pretty volatile. Even if you think the product is going to be good/ successful I don’t think it’s worth trading the security at Google.
Are you comfortable financially and able to take risk? Are you able to give much time to work as startup usually takes more time? If yes to both then take start up offer. Else no.
I voted Google but I would like to add to Oracle's answer. I'd say do both for a few months and if you see the startup has potential can succeed then jump
I am comfortable financially. Time is harder due to family so maybe prioritizing wlb makes sense.
A major reason to join a startup as an employee rather than a founder is if you're hoping to learn more at the startup than your current job. You're highly unlikely to *earn* more, regardless of the startup's stage/funding/growth/etc. If you believe in the startup, consider participating in their next fundraise instead, but don't leave your 650tc, chill, and impactful role at Google for a random private company...
Why do you say that? It seems like if it successful, then it can be significantly higher. I think there is probably a 20% chance to 5x. The value right now seems reasonable expected value for this equity to me.
Startup equity is worth zero until proven otherwise. Founders can fuck you over at any point, a competitor might pop up in the future, Godzilla might rise from the sea right before IPO, etc. You can't enjoy your lottery tickets until you're able to sell them, which may or may not occur in the future. You have no control over dilution. You have no control over company direction or market forces. Startups CAN make you rich, but nobody knows WHICH of the current startups will ultimately be worth anything. This is why VCs invest in hundreds of companies. You're thinking of investing into just one. Again, do it for the experience and the thrill. If you're thinking of doing it for the money, first ask yourself if you'd take 350k/year out of your own pocket and put it into this one company. Then, if so, ask yourself why you can't just invest that (or a smaller amount of) money and are instead considering joining as an employee. Hopefully this exercise will help clarify things.
Shit…how did you get 600k at L5
Stock price appreciation and some exaggeration
That’s not a lot of paper money for that much risk
yup.
400k a year is “not a lot of paper money”?? What? 1.6M paper money equity grant is very large
Can u give breakdown of 650k at G? Stock appreciation and you got it low? When did you join?
It's through an additional grant after my cliff a couple of months ago.
That’s great TC on that yoe What team are you at Google?
It's in research.
650k at L5 in G seems like a troll.
I’m also 650 L5
Are you counting stock increase increase? Googl l5 is max 400
When can you sell the stock? If it’s only when they go public I’d say absolutely not
Unfortunately that is how it is.
Is it common to not have this restriction?
Hmm interesting, startup pays better than google
Paper money is not the same as real money
The base is higher than l5 google