Corporate to Start-up?
I’m a 33M who recently started interviewing with a startup (~250 employees, so not tiny) after a recruiter reached out directly. I usually ignore cold outreach, but after researching the company and product, I became genuinely interested in learning more.
I currently work for a medical device company that took a lot of effort to break into, years of networking and interviewing across multiple companies to land the right role. I’ve been here for almost 3 years, and overall it’s been great. There’s still room for some salary growth, but limited professional growth in my current setup. Realistically, I’d probably need to switch companies within the next few years if I want to continue advancing.
Current comp is $130k base + 10% bonus. Fully remote, though I travel 2 or 3 times per month.
The startup is in the tech/healthcare space. It’s already considered a unicorn with a $1B+ valuation and appears to be growing quickly. The role would pay at least $200k base, no bonus, plus “significant equity” (though I’m not putting too much weight on the equity yet). It’s a “Head of” role with no direct reports initially, but there are plans to build out a team within the first year. I also already live near the office, and I’d likely be in-person 2 days per week.
Before medical device, I worked in healthcare in both clinical and administrative roles, so I have a strong background in the field. This feels like a potentially huge opportunity, but it’s coming at a time when I wasn’t actively looking to leave. I’ve also spent my entire career at large companies (10,000+ employees), so moving into a startup environment would be a major shift.
Job security is probably my biggest hesitation, although I feel like healthcare/medical device is stable enough that I could pivot back if needed.
Honestly, the main reason I’m continuing the process is because I see real potential in the product, and the opportunity to help build something from the ground up is genuinely exciting to me.
Looking for advice from anyone who has made a similar move. Was the jump worth the risk?