I was laid off by Google, then asked to come back. I gave up a 6-figure salary and unvested stock to bet on my startup.
THE SO WHAT
Stories of ex-FAANG talent walking away from six-figure offers and unvested equity to build AI startups are a reminder that the real constraint is founder-quality teams, not capital. If you’re an incumbent, assume your next competitor is a former insider who already understands your infra, pricing, and politics—and adjust retention and spinout strategies accordingly.
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