Technical founders often misunderstand the value they can extract from working at FAANG companies, thinking they will work on significant projects, but often they end up doing less impactful tasks.

Many people assume that working at a FAANG company is essential for gaining experience on hard technical problems, but in reality, most jobs involve mundane tasks that don't translate to startup success.

The perception that engineers from FAANG companies can easily raise venture capital is misleading; while it may help initially, staying too long can diminish that advantage.

Founders often struggle with the transition from a tech giant mindset to the scrappy approach needed in startups, which requires extreme resourcefulness and thoughtfulness.

It's crucial to have a clear plan when starting a job at a FAANG company, including what you want to achieve and when you plan to leave.

It's frustrating to see founders overcompensate for not having a technical co-founder by relying on external developers, as this can hinder their chances of success.

Working at a big tech company like Google can instill a mindset focused on scalability, which may not be helpful in the early stages of a startup where doing things that don't scale is often necessary.

Having different work ethic expectations can strain co-founder relationships, especially in the demanding environment of a startup.

The pace at which issues arise in a growing company can outstrip your ability to resolve them, which is a challenging adjustment for founders used to academic success.