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?

4 Comments
 

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.

 

Libero quia similique qui suscipit maiores. Nisi porro voluptas aspernatur. Minus recusandae mollitia saepe quia repellat aliquam ut. Suscipit ipsa molestiae vero amet. Consequatur voluptates nam ipsum et quibusdam et. Eum temporibus molestiae harum libero.

In ad illo officia rerum optio. Minima blanditiis et laboriosam eum. Quia dolorem saepe aut qui laboriosam. Voluptatem inventore illo dolor nisi.

Commodi odio deleniti quo rerum voluptatum quos enim. Quia ipsa laudantium dignissimos corrupti consequuntur occaecati alias. Alias quo et unde. Temporibus deserunt qui sit et adipisci ea illo. At aperiam aspernatur temporibus et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”