[angarg12]

I don't personally have experience with early stage startups so I can only talk second hand. I think both can provide growth in different ways.

Big Tech is more consistent and structured, while startups are sink or swim. I've seen people come in as Principal Engineers after building the entire product of a successful startup. But that happened because they joined a rocket ship as an early engineer, which is the programmer's equivalent of winning the lottery.

So if you can join a rocket ship by all means do it. Otherwise Big Tech is generally a safe bet.