==12-2024 (2 minute read)== ---- #### Here's why? >Joining an early stage startup when you're young is the only time when it's easy to take that shot. ![[F2B974BE-886B-4CE3-8C01-226D418C0337_1_105_c.jpeg | 500]] *my seat @ grapevine hq* --- ### IBM days - circa 2022 In some ways, my first job at IBM was exciting. I worked on the cutting edge of applied use cases around large language models and everyday was "exciting". I had already interned at IBM for an entire semester before that, and we had worked on some really insane project around context agnostic computer vision systems. By early 2023, I had become an avid user of this new app called [Grapevine](https://grapevine.in/home). In some ways, you have a clear path when you're at a bigger company, you know how promos work and expectations around your work are very clear. ---- ### Grapevine - circa 2023 However, it was obvious that Grapevine had found initial traction, especially with the initial buzz on [X.com](https://x.com/onthegrapevine?lang=en) Mainly, the opportunity to contribute to a consumer internet startup, while the AI hype cycle was manifesting, became too good to pass on. I knew I could contribute. The risk was there but so was my vision of what it meant to succeed at a company like this. Since then, I've had my share of learnings around work, culture and competence. But I am happy that I joined a startup and left a F500 job. Here's how it looked back then vs now: ![[Pasted image 20241219232425.png | 300]] ![[Pasted image 20241219232523.png | 300]] I have also built many things that I am very proud of and hundreds of thousands of Grapevine users continue to use and enjoy them on a daily basis. > Your career is somewhere close to 40 years long. So, it makes sense to join ambitious companies early and if it doesn't pan out, you join a company in the next stage of growth. In some ways, try to sample all stages of company growth. Here was my rationale, I loved the product and the community ❤️. So, I got in touch with the founders. The rest is history. :)