I have worked at several startups over the years, one where I was a founding engineer at a pre-seed company and others in the late venture capital stages. I've also been lucky to go through several acquisitions and mergers. Let me be the first to tell you it's not always glamorous; things get hectic. You ship fast, and things break seemingly at the most inconvenient times, so late nights are part of the game. Don't let that scare you off—I love working at startups and will eventually return to it. Here are some things I wish I knew before getting into the world.

Venture Capital: Understanding Startup Stages

First, for those unfamiliar with venture capital, there are typically several stages of startups. They range from the pre-seed funding level to late-stage funding. Below is a breakdown that explains each stage and what it means for developers joining the company: