Choosing the Right Stage Startup

Unless you've worked at, or with companies at different stages deciding the "right" stage startup is challenging. Do you want to be a founder? on the founding team? Do you want to come in later when some things are already established?

It's important to recognize that early employees are figuring out the 0->1 challenges (mainly product market fit) and later employees are coming in to work on 1->2 challenges (mainly go to market fit). Or maybe you need something much, much larger where it's a well-oiled machine.

Compensation package may be important to some. Titles important to others. And still learning and growth for others.

I've been invited to speak on a panel with Ming Lu and Sar Haribhakti this Friday. Last minute request from a friend and I'm squeezing it during my lunch hour.

My plan is to lend my perspective having now partnered with and consulted for 50+ CEOs over the last three years. The companies these CEOs run range from pre-revenue business to PE-backed $60M-80M ARR companies.

Prior to that I'd played roles in companies at the seed, Series A, and Series B stages. Before that I'd had stints at two Fortune 100 companies.

I'll break down my input into these categories:

• Create your own decision criteria with rigor
• Trajectory/current success/growth rate
• Team (Founders)
• Market
• Understand the problem/customer

I'm looking forward to it.