SF AI lab vs NYC EB IB
Throwaway account for anonymity. I met the founding team of large AI startup at a H/Y/P alumni networking event and received a verbal offer to join their team. All in comp would be ~250-300k + equity. Equity would likely be around 1mm vested over 4 years. However, I also have a return offer for a NYC EB (EVR/MOE/PJT/LAZ). I am overall very bullish on the startup and the AI space as a whole but I am very conflicted about losing the optionality of banking and perhaps alienating myself from the high finance world given how close it is to the start date. Would really appreciate any advice on whether to stay in IB or go into AI.
Hey, go into AI and don't look back.
Am an incoming analyst at Moe, feel free to PM
What would you be doing at the AI company? Product, growth, engineering? That would influence the decision.
I would be directly leading projects/contracts. More focused on operations.
If this is one of the RL companies (Mercor etc.) that’s no where near the same premium as the real model labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, some of the well funded Neolabs / world labs etc.). Those “project lead” roles at the RL companies is basically glorified project management, you won’t learn any real operating skills and their product is quickly commoditizing.
Above poster is right that getting into AI is the way to go but very important you separate the wheat from the chaff or you’ll get burned and waste the most important 2-3 years at the start of your career (you need to maximize your network of important / future important people, learn from senior leaders who’ve actually accomplished something, etc.)
I’d take Moelis bro. Congrats
Take the Ai offer & if everything goes to shit you can just get an MBA in a few years and return to banking. Opportunities like this don’t come often man
Had a similar-ish opportunity of essentially free T7 law school (my goal throughout college) vs last minute offer from a large AI company with a similar equity package + comp. I chose the AI role and starting in two months. Traditional paths like finance and law will always be there, having a unicorn name on the resume will only help you if you choose to rotate back.
🤣🤣 Going in expecting it to be a unicorn is a joke
It became a decacorn in the time between beginning my process with them and today
was in same situation - pm'd you
Hey, I'm in a similar situation but between MBB and AI startup - could you share your experience with me as well! Thank you!
Just so you know, the finance people at startups don’t really get rich. You’re always third class to the founders and engineers
I mean you're always third class to the founders... I think everybody at a startup that isn't a founder is, no?
Depends entirely on the startup. DM. Will say that becoming a "known quantity" in terms of branding and training is underrated by most new grads (i.e. doing at least 1Y of a banking program), and the downside case of the startup is very real so consider career implication of that
In a similar spot debating between MBB and AI startup - happy to chat privately, and if anyone has advice for me as well I would appreciate it!
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