Working at Big Tech Companies Can Be a Trap

Seibel says working in a new environment can reveal problems that might become startup ideas. But the day-to-day work at a large company may offer little preparation for founding one.

At a big company, an employee may own only a small part of a large machine, which can limit what they learn and how quickly. In a startup, Seibel says, the founder may be responsible for the whole team and for whether things work.

Signing bonuses and recurring stock grants can make leaving feel costly. A high salary and company services can also lead employees to spend more on housing, cars, and vacations, raising the financial pressure to stay.

Seibel suggests taking a big-company job with a specific goal, such as saving money, learning a technology, or meeting a co-founder. If someone already has a problem to solve, savings, and a co-founder, he advises getting started. He adds that a blue-chip tech résumé is not required for YC or for becoming a good tech startup founder.