I’m a startup proselytizer. Anyone not working at a startup who’s had coffee or a meal with me will tell you that at some point in our conversation I probably slipped in something about working at a startup. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn, make a difference, see results, have responsibility, etc. and I think everyone should at least try it once. Here’s how:
- Immerse yourself in a tech/startup community. Most big cities have one - you don’t have to move to silicon valley (and if you’re thinking about it, come to New York instead). Put your email address on all the local newsletters (in NY, at least subscribe to Charlie’s), attend every event (especially the ones you don’t think are relevant), and just be an outgoing, friendly person.
- Read the industry papers. I read TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Silicon Alley Insider, Hacker News, and a few others. They all talk about startups that have just raised a round of financing (meaning they have money in the bank). Those are the ones that are hiring. Capital raises are referred to in rounds: a company raises a Series Seed/A, then a B (maybe a year or so later), then a C, etc, until they are sold or go public. The earlier the round the smaller the team and the more scrappy/cash strapped they will most likely be. Also try searching the archives on those sites for your areas of interest to see if anything has come around recently.
- Become an expert before you reach out. When you’ve found an interesting startup, learn everything you can about it, the space, and their competitors. And then learn more. Figure out how you can add value, reach out, and then offer to work for free. Prove you’re worth the money and they’ll bring you on.
While this is focused on tech (by the way, everything today involves tech – from fashion to education), the same idea can be generally applied: immerse yourself, learn all you can, then prove your worth. For more in-depth thoughts, check out Alex Taub’s posts on the subject.
