Which offer should I choose

Hi there,

Congratulations on the offers.

From what you shared the startup seems the best fit but I understand the significant difference in salary.

Here are my thoughts:

• It is unlikely that the local bank will offer the same growth skillset of the startup – unless it is a very tech-savvy local bank. You can check the profile of the workers there and the online presence of the bank to understand it.
• I would not prioritize money at this stage of your career unless you need them urgently for immediate needs. The money difference long-term is not going to be relevant.
• If the startup is good (please do your due diligence on founders and financial capabilities) you are basically trading skills with money. It could be an excellent deal long-term.

I was in a similar situation as you were once. I chose the option with a lower salary (a VC role) and have been very happy with that. That experience was extremely useful for me to then found my own companies and do fundraising. I highly doubt I would have acquired any similar skill with the other role.

To cover the gap in salary, I would consider the following:

1) Negotiate the compensation with the startup for the following, leveraging the bank offer:

• The base salary
• The signing bonus
• The relocation bonus
• The seniority you join 

2) Negotiate the time spent with the startup. This could allow to free-lance and get additional income.

Please feel free to PM me if you want to discuss more, happy to help.

Best,

Francesco