This document discusses the author's experience working at a startup company that eventually had a successful exit. It describes some of the challenges the startup faced early on, including laying off employees, taking time to develop their product, and struggling to gain enterprise customers due to credibility issues. Over many years, the startup raised funding, released new products, reduced headcount at one point, and was eventually acquired, resulting in financial gains for founders and early employees, though more modest gains for later employees like the author. The document emphasizes that while luck plays a role, there are factors that can increase the chances of financial success from a startup.

1. So You Want
To Get Rich
With a Startup

2. RICH LIKE ONE OF THESE GUYS?

3. But you are not a founder or C-
suite

4. $19B FOR 50 PEOPLE. WHAT???

5. WHILE IT'S POSSIBLE,
IT'S NOT SO
STRAIGHTFORWARD!
When should you join a startup to
maximize your chances of financial
gain in the advent of an IPO or
acquisition?

7. Startup founded in 2000
Raised funding in 2001
I joined full time in 2002 as the 15th employee

8. THE COMPANY PIVOTED A FEW TIMES UNTIL 2004

9. 40% OF THE EMPLOYEES
WERE LAID-OFF IN 2004

11. IT TOOK US 2
MORE YEARS TO
GET THE
PRODUCT OUT

12. Sales were low. Enterprise
customers were not buying

13. Why were enterprise
customers not buying a
product from a startup?

14. Because you are a
STARTUP!

15. You don't have credibility

16. What if you won't be around after they spend
$2M on your products? After all, 90% of startups
fail. Which buyer wants to take such risk?

17. What can you do as a
Startup to convince
buyers?

18. Prove that you are resilient

19. Show that you continue to invest in the startup

20. Add new products to your portfolio

21. By 2007 we had
our 2nd gen
product out

22. At the end
of 2007, we
raised
another
$34M as
part of
Series C

23. Even
though we had
enough money
the VCs wanted
us to reduce head
count by 10%

24. By 2011,
while we
were still
not
profitable,
we were
acquired

25. Raised $150M in total
Acquired for $180M
CEO made $3M
Co-founders made $2M each

26. I MADE $200K
ENOUGH FOR MY HOUSE
DOWNPAYMENT

28. LUCK IS A BIG FACTOR, BUT...
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29. STARTUPSURFER.COM