Transitioning to IB from tech?

Hi all,
 

Having a bit of an existential crisis right now because this is a huge decision. Any help/insight would be appreciated.
 

For context, I took a leave of absence in August after 1 year at a solid target (think penn/chicago/columbia) to build a fintech startup. Crazy, I know. Was planning to go into IB right out of undergrad (since hs) and had a last minute change of heart.
 

The startup has actually done fairly well (raised several $m; backed by hedge funds, quant firms, family offices, etc.) and making quite a bit of money. Though, I've since gotten offers to sell it and have to figure out what to do from here. I'm very likely going to pull the trigger, but need to figure out how to spin this.
 

I fucking hate tech and cannot see myself pursuing this path any longer. I came to make money, and only make money, but the ceiling is lower for SWE roles and startups rarely - if ever - work. I managed to get lucky, though I need a stable career path. I simply cannot see myself hopping between roles at later-stage fintech startups or going into FAANG. Also, the Bay Area blows and people that work in tech are obnoxious. I grew up without much money and absolutely need some form of job stability and scalability. Won't go down the same path as my parents.
 

With that said, how do I play this? Obviously it looks nice on the resume, but does anyone actually give a shit? If so, is there any way to bypass the typical internship process? I'm going to likely return to college later this year and start gunning for IB internships (albeit a year later than everyone else). Also, are there any roles still available for this upcoming summer?

2 Comments
 

Tenetur ipsa unde vero qui incidunt. Dicta esse minus accusamus sit cum cum voluptas. Qui consectetur quia odio voluptas dolor et.

Incidunt et aperiam modi consequuntur molestiae aliquam rerum. Voluptates voluptatem odit sed qui nostrum exercitationem quidem. Blanditiis magni dicta et et. Delectus sit ea molestias eveniet. Nobis iusto iure impedit eligendi neque sequi. Id et possimus voluptatem cupiditate rerum maiores.

Aut qui officia ut corporis quibusdam aut est. Sint qui nihil perspiciatis quod. Et omnis et voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”