What I am trying to do here is to list few points on what to look for in a startup before starting your career as a developer. I am sure 10,000 more per month would definitely lure the most satisfied in the early stages of a developers career, but where is the * behind it.
Do you love the product, do you believe in the technology and product
First and foremost to look for in a startup is to clearly understand the product they build or the technology they work on, read a little about it and convince yourself that there are plenty of interesting things which could do when you involve yourself with that specific technology and/or product. Secondly does the product really solve the problem for its customers, of course the white paper has a huge comparison chart with these huge green ticks against their product and a depressing cross against their competitors; you need to make sure that the problem the product solves is in fact a problem which matters to people and which has to be solved by a software.
Who are the important people and what is their history
Who founded? Why? When? What happen between then and now? This is very important. Make sure the founder or the CEO doesn't have a problem with the law, he isn't being sued by his former employer. Also be sure you speak to the important people and you are convinced of their geniuses. If you joined the company because you think the HR you spoke to you sounded sweet, that's probably the last time you will hear from herJ. Trust me on this.
Do you *really* add value to the company – how much I can learn
This is probably most important factor to consider. In any startup, there will be contracted hirers who are responsible for filling in the empty chairs, and make sure you are not in just to do that. Make sure you know how you will be handled and the company has a plan for you for the next 1 or 2 years. Understand how much of your knowledge and skills can be used on the company. Be careful with "learning on the job" because that only works on large companies that can afford to have you happily write sample programs, read books for months. Generally a startup will require you to be productive from week 2, otherwise you'll be a short term liability and startups would not want to afford that and then you will see the ugly side of your technical manager, which could be really irritating. You know that when your boss calls you "boss"J.
What are the benefits?
You will probably be most lured by the offer letter which says you have got 100,000 shares. This is wow, just wow, but wait what does this mean in terms of Rupees? You may not know the answer for that just as yet, but what is more relevant is the percentage of the company you hold; does it mean you have 1% or 0.0001% of the company? This also depends majorly on your employee index if it's anywhere between 10, 0.1% looks lame. If it's more than 100, then you could be happy with 0.1%. If ever your company gives you a choice between a CTC increase with a cut in the shares percentage, evaluate with a weighted average on the shares.
