[eshvk]

1. Joining a startup is different from starting a startup. When you join a startup, irrespective of what cat video app your startup is working, you are still an employee. You may not be working 9-5. You may be working more like 11-11 but you are still nevertheless an employee.

2. I would say that there are more people starting startups in the West Coast because there is a culture of starting companies in the West coast and people think it better to be closer to VCs. It is meaningless to bring this into a conversation of risk because there are loads of people working on risky shit everywhere. Working in a big company at a senior level is playing high stakes poker every day. It is not the same as a "cushy 9-5 job".

Source: I lived in SF, worked for startups for two years. Currently work in NYC.