Famed entrepreneur and Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham says it’s wiser to work for startups rather than large companies, even though they are more likely to fail.
Working for big companies may be “safer,” the investor explained on X, but the connections made with startup colleagues can be a guarantee of future success.
“In ten years they will be running everything,” Graham wrote of startup employees, “even if the startup collapses.”
While Graham’s position isn’t exactly surprising coming from a co-founder of a famous startup incubator, both career paths are hotly debated. In terms of salary, there are trade-offs between the generous salaries of Big Tech and the potentially lucrative stock options of startups.
Others have noted that the unique pressures of working at startups can lead to mental health issues, with corporate jobs often offering a better work-life balance. Long working hours are the norm in startups, although they can also be part of corporate life, depending on the industry and role.
Still, Graham’s advice resonated with X users. “You need people willing to jump in and build the future, and startups inherently self-select for that,” wrote the One. Two.
Another argued that working with large companies helped inform their eventual startup journey: “I learned professionalism, humility, and was surrounded by incredible mentors. »
Graham often gives career advice on
He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider before publication.
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