What do you look for in a startup?

Question

Never worked at a start up before and don't know much about them. For those with experience in this area, what do you look for in a start up? I've heard some people make small fortunes off of start ups but I've also heard my fair share of horror stories.

Accepted Answer

Funding, who backed them, did they back other companies that were successful. If they don't have much funding, as a sales person it's a huge risk and you'll get lowballed on salary.

Answer

To me, funding isn't actually that important. Basically every Saas company has raised a massive round at some point recently. Look at what the leadership team has done in the past. Were they successful? Do they stick around for a while? Do you like them?

Answer

The founders. 
- belief, work ethic, vision, leadership, and passion. 
- no amount of funding can fix a broken mindset

Answer

100% culture. Start-Ups are fast paced, happy & angry, cool & down, the good times equal the bad times, but if the culture is there and there are people you get on with (which is hard initially) you'll be good. Sometimes you can create the culture.

Answer

Are they a sales driven startup or an engineer driven startup.

Answer

1) ARR growth (50% y/y for past 3 years at least)

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Funding, what does their lead flow look like, are their reps hitting quota for the most part, how’s demand gen, and do I like the person I’m interviewing with?

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Do they have private offices, especially for programmers? For salespeople it's less of a big deal. But studies (read "Peopleware") have found that programmers are exponentially more productive in private offices. This is why Microsoft is famous for giving everyone an office. Putting your programmers next to caffeinated screaming salespeople = inferior product.

Answer

I think the most important aspect is the leadership team! My last startup was funded by a great VC but maaan it was bad because their leadership team was shit. The people at the top were there because they were BFF with the CEO... The second most important aspect is the product, is it a market fit, who are the clients, etc.

Answer

One thing only… how many option units they are handing out.

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Leadership - are these the type of people that can get this done with integrity, and compassion for their employees.

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As someone who works at a startup I can say personally it is Founders, product market fit, TAM, competitors

Answer

Equity $$

Answer

To me, funding isn't actually that important. Basically every Saas company has raised a massive round at some point recently. Look at what the leadership team has done in the past. Were they successful? Do they stick around for a while? Do you like them?

Answer

Product - do they have product market fit, or looking towards it. Ask for a few examples of clients, if you haven't heard of any of them, they probably haven't gotten to the product market fit phase.

What do you look for in a startup?

Is my startup really a rocketship?

Need advice : Go to a Big Company (Google/SFDC) or early stage startup [8+ years of Experience]

Big company or startup better?