I have only worked in the startup environment over the last 30 years. I don't miss the big company environment and what I see from my GF (FAANG, plus one F50 brick and mortar) just reinforces that.
But a lot of people choose startup jobs because they read (or saw on TV!) a romanticized version. As described in this article the very things that make it so great aren't the things that most people want...and if you try to blend in too much of the big company thing too early the company doesn't usually make it. It it much more fun to work with people who are really into that environment so anything that steers unhappy people away is better for everyone.
I worked with a guy who had an extreme version of this: his limit was about a dozen people. And looking at his linkedIn he's since worked at some amazing major companies....always at the very beginning. It's just his thing.
I have only worked in the startup environment over the last 30 years. I don't miss the big company environment and what I see from my GF (FAANG, plus one F50 brick and mortar) just reinforces that.
But a lot of people choose startup jobs because they read (or saw on TV!) a romanticized version. As described in this article the very things that make it so great aren't the things that most people want...and if you try to blend in too much of the big company thing too early the company doesn't usually make it. It it much more fun to work with people who are really into that environment so anything that steers unhappy people away is better for everyone.
I worked with a guy who had an extreme version of this: his limit was about a dozen people. And looking at his linkedIn he's since worked at some amazing major companies....always at the very beginning. It's just his thing.