Tech immigrant startup founder dilemma

[Jason Voorhees]

I'll set the scene you are young software dev who landed in bay area just a few months back working for a big tech company. Great TC, free snacks, and ofc the customary we own your soul but atleast the pay is great vibe. Life is hectic 12 hour days, constant fire drills visa leash is tight, but otherwise life is great.

And you receive a cold email from a pre-seed startup. Another immigrant like you in spirit on a visa but from Russia, and trying to build something that could actually matter. They're offering you founding engineer and CTO position with ~40% equity. No salary, just equity and a shot at building the next unicorn.

On the surface it sounds incredible. 40% in a startup if that hits it could make you a billionaire overnight. But here's the catch. It's a true pre-seed (barely any funding and you're both immigrants, normally not a problem because most sillicon valley giants and companies were founded by immigrants but you are now in the Trump era environment so the rules have tightened significantly.

Your visa is 100% tied to your employer. If you leave Big Tech for the startup and it fails, you only get a short 60 day grace period to find another sponsoring company or you have to leave the US. Visa extensions and transfers no problem at all in big tech. Don't even think about it. A tiny pre-seed startup it's risky. Especially with the new $100k+ one-time fees on many H 1B petitions and the shift to a wage-weighted system. One failed round or funding winter and you are catching the next flight home from SFO but it's not like it's impossible. There are many people who dared to jump into the abyss and came out victorious.

Aravind Srinivas. Founder of perplexity.

Eric Yuan, Founder of Zoom

Andrey Khusid, CEO of Miro

So my question. What is your move?

Stay at Big Tech for the paycheck, visa safety, steady wages but wage slaving for a long ass time even with layoff risk ?

Or roll the dice on 40% equity with a fellow immigrant founder and swing for the fences in this climate with a possibility of making generational wealth?

What's your move, Captain?

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@Glorious King @Swarthy Knight @lnceIs @Wuzzdio @User28823

 

[NinjaRG9]

Bro can you make a short thread once in your lif

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@masai jumps enjoyer @Mogs Me @Banned User @Jgns @childishkillah @Mess

 

[Jason Voorhees]

Bro can you make a short thread once in your lif

Select third option

 

[NinjaRG9]

Select third option

Will do sir

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@Sprinkles @sub5outsider

 

[exvh]

Logically, I would want to have a decent amount of savings or be established first (years of work experience) before going to a startup

but I also want to enjoy startup culture to some degree fresh out of college while my responsibilities are low

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@AmericanMTN @Foreverbrad @Daddy's Home @Whatever

 

[masai jumps enjoyer]

depends on my starting position. if i have atleast somewhat rich parent who will be able to support me for some time if i fail and if i genuinely see a lot of potential in the startup, ill take the risk. If I have mortgage/no money besides my job then the risk is too high

 

[Foreverbrad]

Sounds like a scam.

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@Chadeep @Sayori @AverageCurryEnjoyer @mohito @tansel

 

[tansel]

 

[childishkillah]

I'll set the scene you are young software dev who landed in bay area just a few months back working for a big tech company. Great TC, free snacks, and ofc the customary we own your soul but atleast the pay is great vibe. Life is hectic 12 hour days, constant fire drills visa leash is tight, but otherwise life is great.

View attachment 4838549


And you receive a cold email from a pre-seed startup. Another immigrant like you in spirit on a visa but from Russia, and trying to build something that could actually matter. They're offering you founding engineer and CTO position with ~40% equity. No salary, just equity and a shot at building the next unicorn.

On the surface it sounds incredible. 40% in a startup if that hits it could make you a billionaire overnight. But here's the catch. It's a true pre-seed (barely any funding and you're both immigrants, normally not a problem because most sillicon valley giants and companies were founded by immigrants but you are now in the Trump era environment so the rules have tightened significantly.

Your visa is 100% tied to your employer. If you leave Big Tech for the startup and it fails, you only get a short 60 day grace period to find another sponsoring company or you have to leave the US. Visa extensions and transfers no problem at all in big tech. Don't even think about it. A tiny pre-seed startup it's risky. Especially with the new $100k+ one-time fees on many H 1B petitions and the shift to a wage-weighted system. One failed round or funding winter and you are catching the next flight home from SFO but it's not like it's impossible. There are many people who dared to jump into the abyss and came out victorious.

Aravind Srinivas. Founder of perplexity.
View attachment 4838525

Eric Yuan, Founder of Zoom

View attachment 4838530

Andrey Khusid, CEO of Miro
View attachment 4838544


So my question. What is your move?

Stay at Big Tech for the paycheck, visa safety, steady wages but wage slaving for a long ass time even with layoff risk ?

Or roll the dice on 40% equity with a fellow immigrant founder and swing for the fences in this climate with a possibility of making generational wealth?

What's your move, Captain?

 

[thekidd8]

If I were to be in the situation you’ve given me, I would 100% join the startup. While it is risky, staying comfortable is even more risky.

My uncle spent his life working for fed ex because he was comfortable. He was laid off a year ago.

Fuck comfort, it inhibits your growth potential. I would be the best goddamn founding engineer I could be. If it works out, it would be generational wealth. If not, you have experience in a startup, and can know what to look for next time.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

 

[Jason Voorhees]

If I were to be in the situation you’ve given me, I would 100% join the startup. While it is risky, staying comfortable is even more risky.

My uncle spent his life working for fed ex because he was comfortable. He was laid off a year ago.

Fuck comfort, it inhibits your growth potential. I would be the best goddamn founding engineer I could be. If it works out, it would be generational wealth. If not, you have experience in a startup, and can know what to look for next time.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

Mirin sigma mindset

 

[Glorious King]

I'll set the scene you are young software dev who landed in bay area just a few months back working for a big tech company. Great TC, free snacks, and ofc the customary we own your soul but atleast the pay is great vibe. Life is hectic 12 hour days, constant fire drills visa leash is tight, but otherwise life is great.

View attachment 4838549


And you receive a cold email from a pre-seed startup. Another immigrant like you in spirit on a visa but from Russia, and trying to build something that could actually matter. They're offering you founding engineer and CTO position with ~40% equity. No salary, just equity and a shot at building the next unicorn.

On the surface it sounds incredible. 40% in a startup if that hits it could make you a billionaire overnight. But here's the catch. It's a true pre-seed (barely any funding and you're both immigrants, normally not a problem because most sillicon valley giants and companies were founded by immigrants but you are now in the Trump era environment so the rules have tightened significantly.

Your visa is 100% tied to your employer. If you leave Big Tech for the startup and it fails, you only get a short 60 day grace period to find another sponsoring company or you have to leave the US. Visa extensions and transfers no problem at all in big tech. Don't even think about it. A tiny pre-seed startup it's risky. Especially with the new $100k+ one-time fees on many H 1B petitions and the shift to a wage-weighted system. One failed round or funding winter and you are catching the next flight home from SFO but it's not like it's impossible. There are many people who dared to jump into the abyss and came out victorious.

Aravind Srinivas. Founder of perplexity.
View attachment 4838525

Eric Yuan, Founder of Zoom

View attachment 4838530

Andrey Khusid, CEO of Miro
View attachment 4838544


So my question. What is your move?

Stay at Big Tech for the paycheck, visa safety, steady wages but wage slaving for a long ass time even with layoff risk ?

Or roll the dice on 40% equity with a fellow immigrant founder and swing for the fences in this climate with a possibility of making generational wealth?

What's your move, Captain?

tldr

if staying in US is the main goal then option A

if not then leap of faith


cus if u got a good resume , u could legit get interviews like reps on org

and ofc skills too

 

[Glorious King]

If I were to be in the situation you’ve given me, I would 100% join the startup. While it is risky, staying comfortable is even more risky.

My uncle spent his life working for fed ex because he was comfortable. He was laid off a year ago.

Fuck comfort, it inhibits your growth potential. I would be the best goddamn founding engineer I could be. If it works out, it would be generational wealth. If not, you have experience in a startup, and can know what to look for next time.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

wait till ya get salary delays

no funding

short deadlines

and ofc trying to build stuff that people have no idea about

you get ya ass handed to you

 

[5.5psl]

Id say take the oppurtunity you are still young failing is 100x better than always having a what if thought

 

[Sprinkles]

I'll set the scene you are young software dev who landed in bay area just a few months back working for a big tech company. Great TC, free snacks, and ofc the customary we own your soul but atleast the pay is great vibe. Life is hectic 12 hour days, constant fire drills visa leash is tight, but otherwise life is great.

View attachment 4838549


And you receive a cold email from a pre-seed startup. Another immigrant like you in spirit on a visa but from Russia, and trying to build something that could actually matter. They're offering you founding engineer and CTO position with ~40% equity. No salary, just equity and a shot at building the next unicorn.

On the surface it sounds incredible. 40% in a startup if that hits it could make you a billionaire overnight. But here's the catch. It's a true pre-seed (barely any funding and you're both immigrants, normally not a problem because most sillicon valley giants and companies were founded by immigrants but you are now in the Trump era environment so the rules have tightened significantly.

Your visa is 100% tied to your employer. If you leave Big Tech for the startup and it fails, you only get a short 60 day grace period to find another sponsoring company or you have to leave the US. Visa extensions and transfers no problem at all in big tech. Don't even think about it. A tiny pre-seed startup it's risky. Especially with the new $100k+ one-time fees on many H 1B petitions and the shift to a wage-weighted system. One failed round or funding winter and you are catching the next flight home from SFO but it's not like it's impossible. There are many people who dared to jump into the abyss and came out victorious.

Aravind Srinivas. Founder of perplexity.
View attachment 4838525

Eric Yuan, Founder of Zoom

View attachment 4838530

Andrey Khusid, CEO of Miro
View attachment 4838544


So my question. What is your move?

Stay at Big Tech for the paycheck, visa safety, steady wages but wage slaving for a long ass time even with layoff risk ?

Or roll the dice on 40% equity with a fellow immigrant founder and swing for the fences in this climate with a possibility of making generational wealth?

What's your move, Captain?

I don’t see the point of busting you ass at a company just to get laid off

taking the chance on the start up will pay off dividends long term

 

[AverageCurryEnjoyer]

@Chadeep @Sayori @AverageCurryEnjoyer @mohito @tansel

how much savings, If I got enough savings where I can comfortably leave the us and chill on investments then sure.

 

[AmericanMTN]

I’ll take the leap of faith only if it seems like they know what they’re doing, Because I would lose alot if we messed up

I would take the risk though

 

[User28823]

option Z: quit n go become an influencer

 

[Swarthy Knight]

Ngl I have this debate with myself all the time like if I'm working at my imaginary good solid job, would I quit to start my own thing. And the answer for me yes

In your case it's a bit tougher decision since you already working a job that's so competetive to get into nowadays, and you're actually built for it. But if you see the potential with the Russian's idea, then you should go for that I suppose

 

[Swarthy Knight]

tldr

if staying in US is the main goal then option A

if not then leap of faith


cus if u got a good resume , u could legit get interviews like reps on org

and ofc skills too

Bruh why u laughing at that greycel's answer, he was spittin fax

 

[Glorious King]

Bruh why u laughing at that greycel's answer, he was spittin fax

View attachment 4840233

Gotta keep his rep to jfl ratio in check

 

[Jgns]

I mean it kinda depends what the startups about right, if its something logical I'd go for it, but obv u gt be ready for like probably 80+ hour work weeks

 

[Jgns]

but obv the responses ur gn get here are going to be more risk taking by virtue of the forum type and age range so I'd ask those connections u said U had I think to get their opinions.

 

[lnceIs]

Take the risk if his start-up seems to have potential