For a startup you need to convince them that you can help them 1) solve their problems in the role they are offering the job 2) you can wear multiple hats and do things that are on the periphery/adjacent of the role they are offering 3) you are willing to given them an almost unlimited amount of your time and energy towards their day to day needs. You can’t do this thru your resume. You have to do this via your interview and other interactions with them. The resume, then, is simply a tool that allows you to potentially interact with them. Degrees from prestigious universities, or prior jobs at impressive companies or roles etc all are proxy mechanisms of signaling to your potential employer they should have a “interaction “ with you.

I know this sounds extremely cynical, but most(not all) startups are somebody’s grand efforts to make a shit ton of money for themselves (and smaller but meaningful sums for some people who join on that effort). There is nothing wrong here inherently just calling a spade a spade and if You are failing to see this reality you may not understand how resume is just a tool that allows you get to a starting point of convincing someone that they should go be you some amt of money in return for your experience, skills etc. they are going to give thst money to someone and there are many takers. So they will try to maximize their ROI by giving it to the person who is most promising for “their endeavor “. As such while no two startups are alike you can abstract out the common needs across them and optimize your resume (and your interactions) to that end.