| > It makes me think that the "change the world" phase of tech startup history is over, and we're now in the "fill in the gaps" phase, where a "founder" is a hired gun that slots into a VC's portfolio. I don’t think it’s over, but it has shifted into what was previously known as lifestyle businesses. There isn’t much room left for “change the world” startups that have broad impact unless you come prepared with a massive war chest to outspend your competition. Most famous startups still have to buy their customers often through the IPO stage, which is why we still see companies like Uber or even Gitlab being cash flow negative when they go to market. If you’re not prepared to spend your way into the market, you’re unlikely to get very far (there are exceptions, but they are rare). So yes, this space is mostly a VC game. However, I know of more small tech startups than ever before that are bootstrapped or have minimal investment. These small companies aren’t targeting highly competitive, broad markets like ride sharing or Git hosting. They’re playing into a founder’s personal passion or addressing unmet needs in their own domains. They won’t be the next unicorn but they’re producing good work and making a difference close to home. In many ways it has never been easier to start a small startup. Working for a decade at a FAANG job or even a good tech job with an eye toward savings can give someone plenty of savings to coast for years while they start up. Tooling has never been more accessible for rapidly assembling prototypes and gathering customers. Even knowledge about starting companies and scaling software is freely available online. > If you're going to be a hired gun, why not work for a FAANG and probably make a bunch more money? One of my unpopular tech opinions is that “just get a FAANG job” isn’t as easy as it sounds. I know many smart people, including some who went on to become successful entrepreneurs, failed to get FAANG jobs after years of trying. I know several more who got FAANG jobs and then burned out or failed out. If money is your goal and you can get in then it’s a good option. It’s not the easy button, though. |
The world still needs companies that are actually looking to change it, we've barely scratched the surface on what we can do with what's available to us.