It sounds to me like the author would rather work for a big multinational instead of a startup. By definition, a startup is an organization that doesn't even have a clear business model, let alone prospects for its employees' career development 10 years down the line. While it is reasonable to expect civility and common sense from startup managers, their pressing concern is getting the ship afloat before the money runs out, not giving new hires back rubs.

There is a choice to make between experience and hipster points (because that's all you'll get as a junior employee in a Berlin startup) and a solid, stable (at least as much as the economy) job.