Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago

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Should you join a startup or a big tech company like FAANG?

In this video, Jordan Carver shares her firsthand experience working in both, from navigating early-stage startup chaos to managing life at a large company. If you’re deciding between startup freedom and FAANG stability, this video will give you the honest perspective you won’t get in a job posting.

We break down:
✔️ What it’s really like to work at a startup
✔️ Large Company vs Startup: pros, cons, culture, and growth
✔️ What to ask in interviews for both environments
✔️ Signs that you might be better suited for one over the other

This is the video we wish we had before making the jump.
Whether you're early in your career or thinking about making a big switch, watch this first.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Ownership vs Structure
- Risk vs Reward
- How startup founders set the culture
- Equity, salary, and career trade-offs
- The emotional reality of switching paths

#a16z #speedrun #startup #faang #bigcompany #career #entrepreneurship #tech #careeradvice