I am a former FANG software engineer who left his job a few months ago to take a sabbatical.<p>I have always wanted to do a startup but recently I am opening up to the idea of joining a startup. Primarily because :-<p>1. Through working for a few years I now know some promising early startups run by people I like & respect<p>2. I would learn from them and would get to build a lot<p>3. Have some structure in life, the problem statement would be decided and early on I can be pure execution as I increase ownership<p>4. They're in a space that I am interested in but don't understand, so would learn about the domain name.<p>At the same side on the startup side<p>1. I don't have a co-founder<p>2. I have ideas that I am interested in but I don't have something that I want to commit 10 years to. I have some ideas in which I see quick revenue but don't see them IPO'ing while others are bigger longer term but seem like a struggle to start.<p>3. If things work out the financial upside is massive compared to an early employee. At seed / series A startups I'd have to be lucky to get anything over a few percentage points of equity.<p>Overall, when I had joining big tech (or a hedge-fund), startup or starting one as options the first option "big tech" seemed like the easiest thing to do. Now joining one seems like the easiest thing to do.
If you're going to work your ass off at a startup, you ought to at least be able to call yourself the owner/founder. Why bust your ass for some other asshole's startup? If you're going to make some other cunt's dream a reality, you ought to at least get a steady paycheck and a W-2 out of it.