Is having a startup while in IB legal

I'm an incoming analyst at a boutique fintech firm. On the side, I've run a fintech startup for around 3 years now. I've done it long enough that I think I could still run it while on the job, but I don't want to go to jail. I will obviously disclose these business activities. 

Will my firm allow this? If I wanted to raise seed funding for my startup, will that be a conflict of interest and against FINRA?

 

Why would anyone go to "jail"? Are you defrauding customers in your fintech? Is your fintech accountancy "creative"? If no - I don't think this has anything to do with being a criminal.
Check your employment contract whether you are allowed to be employed through other means, 99% of contracts won't allow it. You can disclose it early on (before signing), but all they can do is not offer you the position or simply let you go. That's it. I have never seen employment contracts where this clause was not in there.
The other problem would be a similarity in both businesses or the nature of them. It could be argued that your loyalty is towards the company you own or have created, while being employed for another firm. Depending on what these companies do, this often won't work out in your favor. You have access to IP of a competitor, what deals they are working on and who they are partnering with.

 

I am worried about a potential conflict of interest that can result from for instance being on a deal raising money for a "competitor" and getting inside information, then next week you raise money yourself and idk... I would think this is pretty problematic

 

Also, if I leave two months into the job and get accepted into a top accelerator, will my resume be attractive other banks. Considering it wasnt started during my stint, the timing just wasn't right.

 

Enim in blanditiis enim eligendi accusamus qui quo beatae. Ut in voluptas asperiores debitis et repellat. Sequi iure impedit occaecati quo.

Animi incidunt cum dignissimos dolor veniam molestiae magni accusamus. Nobis molestiae qui non qui nesciunt tempore sit adipisci. Dolor est qui et sapiente fugiat. Quia vitae debitis et cum dolor. Accusamus aut nihil suscipit ut.

Id illum culpa eos. Soluta sed reprehenderit sunt cumque magni optio cumque. Iusto eos a ratione est.

Dicta eligendi aliquam quia. Et aliquid id blanditiis laboriosam ipsam quia quas. Distinctio numquam ipsum inventore dignissimos magnam alias qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”