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Had to pick between a safe job in Phoenix and a risky startup offer
Last year, I got a promotion offer at my steady marketing job (a $75k salary) right when a new startup in Austin offered me a lower base pay but a big chunk of equity. I went with the startup, and after 8 months, we're still not profitable and my savings are getting thin. Has anyone else taken a big pay cut for potential equity, and how did you decide if it was worth it?
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ivanbell19d ago
Been there... took a 40% cut for equity in a property tech startup that folded after 18 months. You need a hard deadline, like if there's no clear path to profit or another funding round in the next 60 days, start looking. That equity is just paper until someone buys it.
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the_christopher18d ago
Honestly, that equity is probably worthless (most startups fail, you know). A steady paycheck in Phoenix would have meant real security, not just hope. You're burning through savings for a dream that might never pay the bills. Sometimes the safe job is the smart move, because it lets you build a life instead of just waiting for a lottery ticket to maybe hit.
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kim.nina19d ago
Look at the big picture beyond just your savings. That equity could be worth a ton if the company finds its footing, and you're gaining unique startup experience you'd never get in a safe corporate job. Sometimes you have to ride out the tough early years to see the real payoff.
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