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Transitioning from Founder to Employee. Have advice?
After founding AI Top Rank, I'm open to a role at an AI startup.
Looking to my network for advice on figuring out this next chapter.
Below is my resume :) Please share it or comment any advice. I'm more than open to all types of opportunities I haven't thought of yet!
PS. AI Top Rank & AI Multipreneur will be nurtured and loved as side projects.
📧 EMAIL
Stephenba4@gmail.com
🎓 EDUCATION
University of Michigan, Flint
• Master of Computer Science, Concentration in Information Systems
• Master of Business Administration, Concentration in Information Systems
Pepperdine University
• Bachelor of Arts in Communications
💻 TECHNICAL SKILLS
Next.js, Vercel, JavaScript (ES6+), Tailwind CSS, TypeScript, React, Node.js, SQL, Supabase, OAuth, AWS S3, Cloudflare, Postmark, Canva, Notion, Usermaven, Beehiiv, Stripe API, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Framer, OpenAI API, Zapier
💼 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder, AI Top Rank (Sept 2023 - Present)
• Developed and marketed AI SaaS achieving 500+ signups in first 3 months
Founder, AI Multipreneur (July 2023 - Present)
• Launched and grew dedicated AI newsletter to 700+ subscribers
Founding Full Stack Developer, Blockworks (July 2021 – July 2022)
• Architected and built fintech MVP with modern web stack
• Interviewed, hired and trained a product and engineering team, including CTO
Full Stack Developer, HealthTrust (Sept 2019 – June 2021)
• Delivered critical new features for surgical coordination app
Full Stack Developer, Accenture (June 2018 – Aug 2019)
• Rapidly developed enterprise Salesforce solutions for Fortune 500 clients
Full Stack Developer, Meridian Health (Dec 2016 – Apr 2018)
• Modernized legacy health insurance application with JavaScript, CSS and SQL
🚀 SIDE PROJECTS
• Built and managed Ethereum mining rig farm
• Developed and pitched various go-to-market strategies for Web3 products
• Managed AI focused brand on Twitter (
@HeyStephenAI
), grew to 4k+ followers
22
Replies
Best
Kevin Goldstein
After co-founding a startup in 2003 and being acquired in 2008, I became an employee of the acquiring company. I only lasted a couple years. I've only worked as a founding member of other startups or myself ever since.
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@kgoldstein How do you find roles as a founding member? I used angellist/wellfound before to become a founding engineer, and have been on yc co-founder matching, but wondering what other outlets exist.
@heystephenai I've always been approached by people that I've met through other projects. If I find their project interesting I figure out if I can fit it into whatever else I'm doing at the time. I wish I had more avenues to offer you.
Have you thought about another startup? Or using Y combinator startup school to find a co founder who may already have an idea and you come on as the technical co founder?
You have very desirable skills. Where are you based?
@slimmy82 Love both of those ideas. I'm planning to add my resume to Wellfound (prev Angellist) as that's where I found my previous role as a founding engineer. And yes, I've been doing calls on YC co-founder matching, which has been a great resource to learn from others.
I'm based in Florida, but will most likely be traveling and working remotely for the foreseeable future.
@heystephenai that’s great, I’m based in NYC and when REI Litics gains traction I’ll reach out and see what you’re working on. You have great skills
@slimmy82 @yogita_pg Perfect. Also, @yogita_pg very curious to hear your thoughts on my existing product, I wonder if any pivots could be done to revive it.
Going from Boss Person to Person Being Bossed definitely takes some humility and humbleness. It also takes a boat load of self-love and self-confidence when it may feel like a step backward or a failure. And, finally it takes adaptability to be able to effectively shift your mindset away from being the one in control of the direction of the company.
The biggest keys are this:
1. Always keep your endgoal in mind: whether you’re becoming an employee to earn consistent income, gain more experience, learn a new skill, or even just to make ends meet, focusing on the fact that like most everything, it’s a means to get you somewhere different in life from where you are now
2. Treat their business as if it were your own. Apply the same passion, dedication, and determination that you had as a founder to this new job. In the end, you’ll sleep better at night knowing that you’re giving everything you have to be the best version of yourself.
Hope these tips help!
@ambiencelife Thanks Deron, I really appreciate point 2. It's best that it's something I truly care about, so I can excel at it and enjoy it, as if it were my own company.
Stephen, with your rich background in AI and full-stack development, you'd be an asset to any tech startup—consider roles where you can drive product innovation or lead technical teams. Your entrepreneurial experience will be invaluable for companies looking to scale quickly and navigate the challenges of the startup world.
@xyz_333 This is my favorite of all the replies. Thanks for the genuine encouragement. I feel more motivated to find a meaningful role at a startup in growth phase after reading it.
Embrace the change in mindset. Moving from a leadership role to an employee role requires adjusting your perspective and accepting a different set of responsibilities.
@razayousaf Thanks Raza, working on being open to all possibilities and willing to adapt is definitely important, but can be challenging.
Emphasize collaboration and teamwork. Be willing to work with others and contribute to group goals, fostering a positive and cooperative work environment.
Take the time to understand the existing company dynamics, hierarchies, and communication channels. This awareness will help you integrate more smoothly into the team.
@margret_rhyme Makes sense, I've worked at plenty of other companies before, but never transitioned from being a founder back into an employee. Maybe I could look for a co-founder role as a middle ground?
Invest time in building relationships with colleagues. Networking within the organization can help you integrate better and contribute positively to the team.
@sabaat_parasad I'd love to network with early startup founders in the growth stage, and get hired as a co-founder or leader there. I know Wellfound is a place to find roles like that, do you know of any other places?
If you love building and running a startup, you should try to find a role in a startup. Corporate inefficiencies will drive you crazy.