IBD vs PE vs Start up

I'm an IBD associate working on my own start-up. It's pretty exhausting but my IBD team has a good culture with a relatively good work-life balance which allows time to focus on my start-up on weekends and late evenings.

In terms of the start-up, I think if this becomes successful it will do well to the point I could resign and focus on it full-time but it is also high risk and may fail / be a complete waste of time and money like with any start-up.

I've also been recruiting for buyside and received a PE offer. It's not my "passion" my passion is running my own business but at the same time, I would much rather be on the buyside investing than working in IBD.

So I'm now in a difficult situation as if I accept the PE offer I will have no time to focus on my start-up for multiple reasons such as longer hours, more intense work and a new role so having to impress and show a hard working attitude but if I reject the PE offer to remain in IBD and focus on my start-up and the start up fails than I'm stuck in a role I hate, IBD. I'm already an associate so I feel if i remain in IBD for much longer I may get pigeon holed.

To reiterate my interest in order: my own start-up > PE > IBD. Unsure what to do and would appreciate any advice. thanks.

2 Comments
 

Oof. Whatever you do, do not let your bank know that you're working on something else on the side. Your employee handbook likely forbids you from doing this.

You could always do PE for 1-2 years and then quit for the startup. At that point, you'd have principal investing experience and if the startup blows up you can always go back. I'd say this is the safest option. It's a nice balance between safeguarding your future and doing what you want ... just not right now.

Maximum effort.
 

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