Hey there 👋

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If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve either just landed your first startup role, or you've made your decision to join a startup. This guide is here to help!

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Who is this guide for?

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This guide is designed as an introduction to startups for those who have never worked in a startup before. So this is perfect for you if:

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• you're about to start or have just started working for the first time at a startup
• you're looking to start your career in a startup
• or you're working in another industry and looking to transition to a career in tech.

If you have previously worked or currently work for a startup, you’re most welcome to stay. But be warned: this is a guide for complete beginners, so you may see things that you already know.

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What is this guide about?

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A lot of guides on the market focus on preparing you for a specific role: “How to land a Product Manager role”, “Nail your Sales interview”, and so on. But let’s step back for a minute and consider the story of Alexia.

Alexia is a young but ambitious actress looking to make it big in Hollywood. While it is important for her to nail the auditions for her first role in a movie, that alone will not help her achieve her dream. To become a movie star, Alexia needs to have a good understanding of the movie industry.

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Who will she meet on her journey on and off set? What are their roles? What’s the difference between a movie producer and a movie director? What about the difference between a talent agent and a talent manager?

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How does a movie get made, from script writing to filming, production, and distribution? What makes a movie a success?

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How do movies get funded? What matters to investors? How does the investor profile (studio vs. production house vs. private investor) impact how her movies get distributed or even her merchandising deals?

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How does she get paid for playing in movies (day rate vs. profit sharing)?

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Well, it’s the same for startups. If you want to have a successful startup career, you need to understand how the system works. And that’s where this guide comes in.

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TLDR: This guide will give you the big picture you need to succeed in your first startup role and beyond.

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What's in each chapter?

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Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll learn in each chapter:

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• What is a startup: What does it even mean to work for a startup?
• The startup lifecycle: What size of startup should you join? What should you expect at each stage of a startup’s life?
• The startup ecosystem: Which type of actors will you encounter while working in a startup? How do the different players of the startup ecosystem interact with one another?
• Startup financing: Why do startups need funding? How can a startup finance itself? What’s the implication of each type of fundraising for the startup and yourself?
• Building a tech product: How is a tech product built? What does the product look like at each stage of development?
• Startup jobs: What are the different roles you can find in a startup? What may be a good fit for you? What team(s) will you work with internally? What are their objectives and how do they align with yours? How does startup compensation work (salary vs. stock option)?

TLDR: Upon completing this guide, you will have a good understanding of the jargon, processes, and people that make up the startup universe, and be in a good place to navigate this intricate ecosystem.

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What this guide is not about

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Just to be clear, this is NOT:

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❌ a guide on how to launch a startup

❌ a guide on how to apply for a specific startup position

❌ an op-ed on why you should work for/launch a startup

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Furthermore, this guide will only focus on tech startups, ie. young companies that sell software, software-powered hardware, or tech-powered marketplaces. Some examples of companies not covered are ecommerce companies (unless it’s an ecommerce software or platform) and agencies, but more on that in our first chapter: ‘What is a startup?’ (coming soon!)

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