At some point in my life, I want to found a startup, but I don't know if this is the right time for me. The main thing stopping me from founding one right now is that I don't feel at the edge of some field; I don't feel like "I'm living in the future," like a good startup founder should[1]. Side note: thank you YC for the amazing curriculum you put together in Startup School for Future Founders[2].
As the title suggests, I have three possible paths that I would be equally interested in following:
- Ph.D.:
- Pros:
- This seems the best option to get at the edge of some technology;
- getting paid to study what I am most interested in sounds great;
- Cons:
- Academic bureaucracy;
- I might be forced to write more papers than I want to.
- Google: this summer I interned here and got a conversion offer.
- Pro: If I get picked by the right team I might learn a lot of interesting stuff and get at the edge of some technology.
- Con: "[...]getting a normal job may actually make you less able to start a startup, by turning you into a tame animal who thinks he needs an office to work in and a product manager to tell him what software to write."[3]
- Starting a startup: "So now I'd advise people to go ahead and start startups right out of college. There's no better time to take risks than when you're young. Sure, you'll probably fail. But even failure will get you to the ultimate goal faster than getting a job."[3]
1: http://www.paulgraham.com/before.html
2: https://www.startupschool.org/future-founders
3: http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.htmlTaking a job at Google would expose you to the right type of environment, with lots of internal opportunities. It would also look great on your CV and be a springboard to other opportunities outside GOOG.
The startup thing could work, assuming you have the right combination of skills, business idea, commitment to make it happen, and know a few others who could join forces. Bit more risk with this one, but obviously a bigger payoff.
* depending on your area, a PhD may not touch much "technology", if any at all. There will be a lot of writing, a lot of reading, a lot of math, and a lot of hard conference/journal rejections that you put 6+ months into apiece. And that's if you can land a fully funded position. You will have to teach, and skimp on niceties and luxuries, and "just barely get by" on a stipend. If you're not deeply motivated by the learning and willing to endure a monk-like existence, do not take this path.
* if you have a Google offer, especially as an intern conversion, TAKE IT. You will have access to the true cutting edge in technology (certainly way more than 99.9% of academic labs). You will learn rigor, elegance in code, how to critique and take criticism, and how to build truly scalable systems. It is very much like an "industry PhD"...it will change the way you think.
* you will still be "young" after a few years at Google, but you will be immensely more technically mature. If you do a startup now and burn out in 2-3 years, that Google interview will be immensely more daunting, and you might not be able to swing it. You'll also have a couple of years of RSUs saved up to tide you through the rough startup moments.
TL;DR--Google.
If I were you, I would try to get into one of the research areas of Google (if the team matching process has not happened already), e.g. Google Brain, they tend to have year-long fellowships. That way, you can experience research without the long term commitment. If it turns out you really like it, then your mentors at Google can give you a sense of whether going back to academia is a good plan or not.
If you have not worked full-time for at least a year before, then I would take the Google offer regardless of whether it is a research area or not. No one should go to a PhD without first experiencing industry first.
PhD: No.
Google Job: Yes if you can get it starting out.
Startup: May be in a couple of years after getting some industry experience. Contrary to what people may say, it is extremely tough to just found a startup when you have no experience, connections, vision or even idea of what you would want to do. If you have the vision, connections, experience etc, sure go for it but most likely you don't.
Do a PhD if you love research, and have a good safety net e.g. middle class family who'd support you in an emergency or savings to cover several years' living costs. Have an exit plan - are you planning to go on the postdoc treadmill afterwards?
Go for the BigCo if you're unsure what to do. You'll build your CV, make good money, and learn whether it suits you well.
IMO only go for the start-up if you've got a specific opportunity in mind that you're in love with. Almost all start-ups fail, and sadly it's harder to spin those failures into something positive on a CV.
There have been highly successful founders who dropped out of university, others who became founders after doing PhDs, someone like Martin Kleppmann who became an academic after selling a few successful businesses, etc.
I'd suggest doing whichever of three peaks your interest most at this stage.
Google will send you email offers for the rest of your life, so I’d keep it last in my list. You can also replace Google with many other co.
Startup I don’t recommend starting one unless you have a problem to solve and money. PhD can help you work on some good tech, but don’t forget about a good problem. Google can help you with money, but again you have many other options.
Only join a startup if you are a founder, or the founders are extremely notable and you are early.
Probably do Google for two years, then start a company while working there