Key insights

• 💼 Slim success rate of unicorn startups
• ⏳ Watching for signs indicating it's time to leave
• 💸 Unsuccessful startups impacting the value of employees' equity
• 📈 Joining a company at a later stage can lead to high strike prices for options
• 🎯 Uncertainty during acquisitions may result in job reassignment or ending up at big tech companies
• 📊 Revenue growth is a significant factor for evaluating the potential success of a unicorn company
• ❓ Importance of asking questions about product market fit, customer engagement, and business performance
• ⚠️ Caution against relying solely on fundraising rounds to judge a company's performance
• 🚀 Consider moving from late-stage to early-stage company for better equity and advancement
• 🔍 Evaluate early-stage companies using provided hints
• 🛑 Avoid job hopping to build a successful career and expertise
• 📊 Analyze company metrics, management engagement, and founders' competence before making decisions
• 🧠 Critical thinking is essential as not all 'unicorns' guarantee success
• 📉 Investors and authority figures may not be reliable indicators of a company's success

Q&A

• How should employees critically evaluate their company's success at a unicorn company?

  Employees should make their own judgment about their company's performance, considering alignment with facts, credibility, colleagues' busyness, and meaningful work. Critical thinking is essential, as not all 'unicorns' are guaranteed to be profitable.

• What factors should employees analyze before leaving a unicorn company?

  Before leaving a unicorn company, employees should carefully analyze company metrics, management engagement, and founders' competence. They should also avoid job hopping and think critically about their decision.

• What should employees consider when evaluating timing of fundraising announcements at a unicorn company?

  Employees should be cautious about the timing of fundraising announcements and consider moving from a late-stage company to an early-stage one for better equity and advancement opportunities. They should also evaluate early-stage companies using provided hints and consider starting a company as an option for better trade-offs.

• Why is it important to ask questions about product market fit and customer engagement at a unicorn company?

  Asking the right questions about product market fit and customer engagement is crucial for evaluating the potential success of a unicorn company. Product analytics provide valuable insights that employees can use to assess product success.

• What are the key factors to consider when joining a unicorn company at a later stage?

  Employees should consider high strike prices for options, uncertainty during acquisitions, and the importance of focusing on revenue growth for potential success at a later-stage unicorn company.

• What should employees watch for in unicorn startups to determine if it's time to leave?

  Employees should watch for signs of instability, slow growth, or unfavorable market conditions that may impact the company's success and the value of their equity.

• 00:00 Considering the slim success rate of unicorn startups, employees should watch for signs it might be time to leave, especially since unsuccessful startups can negatively impact the value of their equity.
• 02:27 Joining a company towards its later stage may result in high strike prices for options and uncertainty during acquisitions. Being smart and focusing on revenue growth are key factors for employees at unicorns.
• 04:39 Asking the right questions about product market fit, customer engagement, and business performance is key. Product analytics are widely available to employees and provide valuable insights. Relying solely on fundraising rounds as a signal of success can be misleading.
• 06:47 Be cautious about timing of fundraising announcements. Consider moving from a late-stage company to an early-stage one for better equity and advancement opportunities. Sometimes the 'dumb' move at the moment is the smart move later. Evaluate early-stage companies using the hints provided. Starting a company is an option for better trade-offs.
• 08:56 Be cautious when leaving a unicorn company, avoid job hopping, and analyze company metrics, management engagement, and founders' competence before making decisions.
• 11:08 Employees should make their own judgment about their company's performance, considering factors such as alignment with facts, credibility, colleagues' busyness, and meaningful work. It's essential to think critically about company success, as not all 'unicorns' are guaranteed to be profitable.