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Comment by drblast | Hacker News Reader

I fail to see the problem with this. Why is it bad to work for a large company?

Do you know how ridiculously difficult it is to prove to an established business that "no, I don't have the specific experience you are looking for, but I can learn it in short order and I'll be one of your best employees," and then stand out from the 100 people behind you who say the exact same thing?

It's also ridiculously difficult for companies to figure out who the talented people actually are.

If you're really talented, what better way to prove it and lose nothing in the process? And what better way for a large company to get good people on board?

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Most people do a startup to get out of a large company.. not to get into a large company.

In my experience most people involved in Startups are trying to make big money.

Obviously not written by an entrepreneur. Some people can be satisfied by working for someone their whole lives, others can't.

It's not like anyone is forcing these people to sell the company. You have the option.

If you're a whole-hearted entrepreneur, then don't sell.

Otherwise, a startup is a great way to get some experience, prove your value, and get a great job afterward.

If the option to sell to a large company who wants talent didn't exist, the downside to startups would be significantly greater.

The naive assumption here is that the sellout option is the entrepreneur's decision alone. If you've taken VC cash, you're answerable to a board of directors and a group of investors. If the money guys are getting cold feet, and want their cash out now, it's very hard (often impossible) to NOT sell.

If you've raised an A round, the easiest place to get your B round is the original set of investors (not least because it can keep the number of board seats/turnover low). If the A round guys want an acquisition exit and you refuse, not only are you spiting your best option for B round funding, you now have to raise money in an environment when all the other VCs know you ignored the last round of VCs' desires. Good luck getting your B round in that scenario.

Entrepreneurs may not want to be part of a talent acquisition, but often VCs do. If you're determined to never work for a big corporation you don't own, you better bootstrap forever and never take VC cash.

Selling a business for a payout is one thing... Starting a business just to get a job is kinda nuts. You say "lose nothing", but there's always a tradeoff..

Actually, it makes sense (especially if it is "start a business as a bootstrapped thing").

You get a nice cash bonus (even if you only net $50k, it's nice), AND you come in higher in position than a random hire, and you have a shot at a better company than you might otherwise.

It would be crazy to try to raise VC to start a business to get a job somewhere as an acquihire, but bootstrapped is entirely different.

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