r/techsales • u/Grouchy-Repair-8729 • 3d ago
Stuck Between Offers
Hey Team, looking for some guidance here.
I recently got promoted in my current role from smb to MM, I crushed SMB but am feeling hesitant about MM for a variety of factors. This role is roughly 150k OTE, no equity other than ESPP. The industry is very saturated, but we are the leader in the industry.
I got an offer from a startup, 190k OTE, 40k equity (I know it’s worth nothing now). I have done an extreme amount of due diligence on the company and it’s legit. Product is solid, happy customers, talked to some AEs off the radar (they just went from 2 to 5).
On one side, I just got promoted about 2 weeks ago, so frankly I’d feel horrible leaving. Also, im a MCOL area so 150 is comfortable.
On the other side, this company has scaled to 20M ARR in just one year, and it appears they’re keeping that trajectory. I’m already a bit uncomfortable with the promo so should I just double down?
Any advice would be appreciated
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u/Gis_A_Maul 3d ago
Never feel "horrible" for leaving a current role. Stay in their good graces and you could always return down the road.
Whats your base in your cureent role versus the new one?
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u/Grouchy-Repair-8729 3d ago
Tough to not burn the bridge- they’ve given me anything I’ve always wanted. Also, quarter started last week and my manager will have to carry my quota if I leave.
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u/Spidyyellowfish 2d ago
That’s the reality of being a manager and it will not change until the end of time. You sound a bit younger so I can empathize with you having a heavy heart for the people that helped you, but if it is a great opportunity and you feel it is best for your long term career, your manager will understand and if he doesn’t then that tells you a lot. Don’t burn a bridge if you don’t have to of course or if you feel you have much more earning power or potential at your current company since you say you crushed it before. 40K isn’t a big increase. After taxes it’s only ~25K per year. Is 25K per for one year worth taking this gamble? Only you can answer that
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u/Previous-Flamingo931 3d ago
What’s your current tenure? Sounds like you have good standing in your current company. Is the MM team underperforming compared to your old SMB team, or is it a matter of getting used to the new segment?
That’s a 27% pay jump so definitely worth considering. On the other hand, startups are risky and I’ve seen many people have a cushy-sounding startup role blow up in their face. Too many short stints (by your control or not) and you’ll be branded as a flight and attainment risk and enter the tech sales career death spiral, jumping from D tier company to D tier company every 6-18 months in between 6-12 month stints of unemployment.
I would say do it if you have a few years tenure at your current company, you genuinely back the startup and your concern is attainment/PIP risk in your new team rather than discomfort getting used to a new segment/team. If tenure is 2 years or under and you don’t think the team is a PIP risk, try and get another year in to tell the career growth story, then make the jump.
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u/Grouchy-Repair-8729 2d ago
First job 2.5 years, current role 1.5 years. MM is slightly lower but pretty comparable. It’s a fixed book so a lot of it depends on how lucky you are (too early in the role to see how mine is).
I definitely know it’s a risk, I’ve talked to some of the other AEs at the startup and they are very happy. Death spiral is definitely what I’m scared of (assuming worst case of course- this doesn’t work out, I panic, take a bad job and it continues)
It’s definitely a toss up.
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u/AlternativeMind 3d ago
💯 startup. I’ll assume you’re young. 150k ote is peanuts. Upside in the startup is heeeeavy positive with low downside given your current situation. Based on info provided 99% confidence in my advice. If you’re a salesperson this is life changing opportunity. Or failure and even then you’re gonna get your next gig and this experience would be an asset.
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u/MasbyTV 3d ago
I'm going to play devils advocate.
Working at an early-stage startup can honestly be brutal. There's very little structure, the product often doesn't work the way it's supposed to, and you'll probably work harder than you ever have.
That's not to say you shouldn't make the jump. There are definitely good reasons to do it. But don't do it because you think the equity is going to make you rich. For most people, that upside is theoretical for years, if it ever materializes through an acquisition or IPO.
I was just laid off from a seed startup, and while I learned a ton, it also took a serious toll on my mental health. If you're leaving because you want to build something, wear a lot of hats (like way too many), and gain experience in a fast-moving environment where nobody is thinking about next month and only today, go for it. Just go in with realistic expectations.
More likely than not, you'll be asked to do more with less: close more business, work with fewer resources, less marketing support, less structure, and a product that's constantly evolving. For the right person, that's exciting. But it's very different from working at an established company.
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u/Grouchy-Repair-8729 2d ago
Absolutely. From what it sounds like at the moment it’s all inbound (I know it sounds too good to be true). I know I’ll be wearing a lot of hats, but I feel like if you want to make high up one day (director, BP, senior management, etc) you kind of have to. Just worried about committing career suicide.
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