Don't Quit Your Job | Hacker News Reader

Don't Quit Your Job

44 points_ildb13 comments

If you're an SWE thinking about quitting your job to build your startup, do not do it in this economy. I used to read posts like this and scoff at them, especially since I had already founded and sold a semi-successful startup. VCs are super selective towards anything non AI at the moment which results in very lowball offers, b2b isn't viable as it used to be because businesses don't have that kind of money anymore, many of which are even laying off their employees.

I had a sweet job at a NY based unicorn and I was among the highest paid in my country. I quit it thinking worst case scenario, I would just freelance till something works out, but alas, that market is flooded with layed of swe's which are driving the prices to the bottom. I can't believe just how fast things change when you're jobless and nothing works out. I finally gave in and applied to a few jobs but didn't get a call from companies who were reaching out consistently to me some time ago. So don't make the same mistake I did, especially if you have responsibilities of any kind. Stay safe and keep working on that project on the side.

I have the philosophy that if you don't build in the bad times, you don't get to sell in the good times.

Also it helps to keep 3-4 years of runway.

Hardly can find work at current economy, good luck building a startup / getting that investor money. Already surrended to the fact I'll be fighting non-stable income until the end.

Yep, I learned that lesson the hard way too. Always have a job when working on your side projects, and if one takes off such that it can replace your job consistently, then quit.

Yeah, the market is quite bad. I’m a SWE with half a decade in FAANG on my resume and CTO experience in a VC funded startup I cofounded and while I’m getting a slow trickle of responses, response rate is easily 10x less than it was in October 22, last time I was looking.

…with that, I am starting to seriously plot a bootstrapped startup, as it’s just taking a long time to find a job and I might as well go and build something.

i'm in a similar situation. cofounded a VC backed company, then worked in product in data analytics. started applying for jobs and getting limited responses.

currently rethinking careers and connecting with folks interested in starting something.

What kind of career refocus are you thinking about?

I might be hiring, can you share your linkedin profile?

[link redacted]

> Founded and sold this venture and had a great time doing it. It was a 24/7 on-screen AI therapist/companion for people with extreme anxiety/mental issues. After selling it, I made it public for free to help as many people as possible, and it had a 4.8/5 rating by a total of 50+ reviews and thousands of users. However, I shut it down for good on December 2023 due to server costs

You sold it, but continued to control it and pay for it, and then also made it free? How does that work? What did you sell exactly?

Only asking because others may be as confused as I am :)

Yep ... you should at least earn something from your startup in order to leave your job in my opinion!

Also about AI ... the VCs want you to at least have AI strategy for your startup. In other words, does your startup do something that can be smashed by a single additional feature by one of the big AI softwares.

A clear vision to distribute neural network weights in the blockchain on the cloud using microservices and DLC content to disrupt the invisible hand of the market and make the world a better place.

Where do I wire my money?

phew. I was worried my startup would be successful :) You gotta work on it full-time!

It’s an adventure. I did it for the learning and the growth, and the great technology hacking. Not to have a job :)

J

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