Leaving promising startup situation for Tier 1 IBD Off-Cycle

Hi Everyone,

So I've been having some sleepless nights lately.

After having finished my IB summer internship, I decided to go back to my home country during covid to finish my dissertation and apply for an Off-Cycle.

After getting home I was contacted by a wealthy family friend to trade some of his money (a few M) and get a carried in return, this is going quite well.

Next to that i started creating a SaaS app with 2 friends that I trade with. The app looks very promising, works perfectly and is launching soon.

Moreover I am helping out with another friend's startup and received 10% equity in return, we are currently raising VC capital.

Taking all that aside, I just received an offer to start an Off-Cycle by Jan 2021 at a top EB back in London. 

My parents want me to take the IB offer but I am scared that I will have to let go of every thing that i've worked for over the last months without being able to return to it. Nevertheless, getting into IB is everything that I have been working for over the last years and I am scared that if I don't join again now, I won't be able to return to it. 

I always told myself to do IB for a couple of years for the experience and afterwards get out to start my own startup (as that is what I really enjoy the most): current opportunities are tempting me to shift the timeline. 

Some advice would be higly appreciated, thanks guys (and girls)!

2 Comments
 

Hi OP - I would personnaly do IB just for the foundation but it is up to you. 

I am final year SA looking to apply for Jan off-cycle in 2022 and just wanted to learn a bit more about the process. how many firms were available to apply to.

 

Consequuntur consequuntur velit vero. Aliquam at est consequuntur eaque nihil blanditiis eveniet corporis. In enim maiores itaque. Possimus pariatur reiciendis aperiam eligendi maiores. Quia asperiores aut blanditiis. Dolor modi beatae architecto dolorum.

Laudantium omnis sed consequuntur labore ut voluptas sit. Voluptate similique voluptas est velit possimus sit hic neque. Incidunt nihil accusamus dolorum. Eaque suscipit porro nulla cupiditate reprehenderit corporis suscipit.

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 (68) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
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...”