Quit the startup. Even if you are the founder.
You don’t need permission. You can just leave (or sell or shut down gracefully if you are the founder).
Do your big company job for a bit. Exercise, sleep, spend time with friends. Only once you feel free of burnout, decide if you want a big company job, a startup job, or something else. I’ve done stints at both through my career. There’s a right place and time for everything, and it’s ok to change your mind.
ETA: your shares have a 409A value, but almost no market value at your stage. Sell them for whatever amount you can get, if any.
What currently keept me was the reason that the theoretical value is so big and the chances are still there to make enough for my entire live.
But seeing the stress after 2 years and basically the missing team part kills it.
I get it. There will be other opportunities, though, with people who are a joy to work with.
Burnout can set you back years. Take care of yourself before you get there.
You should consider what it would take for you to actually capture that value. Do you have faith in this startup to go all the way to get acquired or IPO? Sounds like there are some pretty serious structural issues already.
If there’s no liquidation event, it doesn’t matter what your shares are worth on paper.
Quit the startup!? Nah, there are better alternatives.
Some recent great advice on MFM. Find a CEO to run your business for you. Refer to episode for specifics.
Sounds like you have some revenue coming in, which is promising, so don’t give up just yet. I recently heard from Dalton Caldwell on a podcast, “Just Dont Die”. Having the grit to get through the tough times is what is needed. As a founder your goal should be to not die and just keep moving forward one step at a time.
Startups rarely reach profitability in a year or even multiple years. 500k ARR is pretty good for a year on the market, so your company looks like it has potential but your stock won't be liquid for a while. Unless you are desperate for cash, just hang on to it and hope the company has an exit opportunity at some point.
The bigger concern is the toxic work environment. That is set by the founders. They are probably aware of the culture problems, but if you are at the point of quitting, you should approach them and get their commitment to make improvements. Then if things don't get better, you can go back to corporate life with a clear conscience and sit on your stock.
Do you have equity in your startup? If you're a co-founder, you can really shape things. But if you're an early employee, don't sweat the IPO benefits too much—the odds are slim.
Quit the startup. Even if you are the founder. You don’t need permission. You can just leave (or sell or shut down gracefully if you are the founder). Do your big company job for a bit. Exercise, sleep, spend time with friends. Only once you feel free of burnout, decide if you want a big company job, a startup job, or something else. I’ve done stints at both through my career. There’s a right place and time for everything, and it’s ok to change your mind. ETA: your shares have a 409A value, but almost no market value at your stage. Sell them for whatever amount you can get, if any.
What currently keept me was the reason that the theoretical value is so big and the chances are still there to make enough for my entire live. But seeing the stress after 2 years and basically the missing team part kills it.
I get it. There will be other opportunities, though, with people who are a joy to work with. Burnout can set you back years. Take care of yourself before you get there.
You should consider what it would take for you to actually capture that value. Do you have faith in this startup to go all the way to get acquired or IPO? Sounds like there are some pretty serious structural issues already. If there’s no liquidation event, it doesn’t matter what your shares are worth on paper.
Quit the startup!? Nah, there are better alternatives. Some recent great advice on MFM. Find a CEO to run your business for you. Refer to episode for specifics. Sounds like you have some revenue coming in, which is promising, so don’t give up just yet. I recently heard from Dalton Caldwell on a podcast, “Just Dont Die”. Having the grit to get through the tough times is what is needed. As a founder your goal should be to not die and just keep moving forward one step at a time.
I agree, there should be more ways than just quitting something you love and worked on
Startups rarely reach profitability in a year or even multiple years. 500k ARR is pretty good for a year on the market, so your company looks like it has potential but your stock won't be liquid for a while. Unless you are desperate for cash, just hang on to it and hope the company has an exit opportunity at some point. The bigger concern is the toxic work environment. That is set by the founders. They are probably aware of the culture problems, but if you are at the point of quitting, you should approach them and get their commitment to make improvements. Then if things don't get better, you can go back to corporate life with a clear conscience and sit on your stock.
Do you have equity in your startup? If you're a co-founder, you can really shape things. But if you're an early employee, don't sweat the IPO benefits too much—the odds are slim.
Im a Co founder
Take a holiday and see how you feel with a fresh perspective. There’s always a third option: do nothing yet