Since I've been in Singapore, I've had the opportunity to either interview with or start work for several startup companies. Before I go on, please don't see this as me taking a swipe at the companies I interacted with, but rather a perspective that may well help others when choosing their career path.
I should also provide some context that before Singapore, I worked for a big company in Shanghai, and in the UK I was a teacher for 4 years, so no start up exposure before this. Fresh.
I've been lucky in a way because my wife has a steady job with a major blue chip company and earns enough for me to part ways with jobs if I don't think that it's a good fit or if I think it's taking me down the wrong path. Venturing down the wrong path is a real sin in my book, I don't think I've got any time to waste; but that's another story. Perhaps later.
So, because I've been able to pick and choose, I've had the following experiences (and I won't name names).
1) Locally run business supplying education solutions to schools and colleges. My first Singaporean career experience. Up sold on the profile of the company, made to seem as if it was a bigger deal than it was. Low salary offer, I took because I wanted to get going with something asap. They applied for an EP for me, and it was rejected. This was down to the fact they owed government taxes. *alarm bells* They said they'd sort it out, but I politely declined, and moved on.
2) Company linked to pharmaceuticals. Owner was a former director of innovation at one of the major pharmas; super nice guy, really got on with him, liked his perspective. However, in the office, there were 2 of us; me and a graphic designer, with another team in Dalian, China. Boss spent most his time over there. Projects were thin on the ground, and not the most innovative. Was expected to do market research and PowerPoint presentations. Frustrating, and frankly boring. I thought best to be on my way.
3) Web design studio. Pleasant owner, big aspirations, big contracts with major banks, miserable developers, super dull office plastered over with attempts to force cohesion. Didn't work for me at all. Perhaps the most depressing environment I've had to work in. I don't expect sympathy there, just saying it was maximum dullocity.
4) Locally run startup providing a restaurant reservations system on the web and mobile. I was super excited about this one, lots of potential to do amazing things. Only 2 developers and a graphic/front end dev. That's to architect the system, do bug fixes, maintenance, handle server engineer tasks, do mobile development, everything. Overworked developers. One of the main things here was the reluctance to embrace change. Initially the web and mobile products didnt sync up, but that got fixed quickly. The main problem in the end (and I stayed with these guys the longest) was that they expected success overnight without extensive marketing and effort. There was little effort from some staff there, the ceo has his eyes firmly fixed on selling the business as soon as he can hit a certain valuation, and not everyone was going in the same direction. What's the point in creating great products if noone sees or hears about them? Success is not measured from if your friends and family like and use the product. 15 Facebook 'likes' on a post every two weeks is not going to rock the boat really. Especially when your main competitors have money to burn with marketing and manpower budgets.
5) One company I'd been speaking to were very keen on me, and wanted to make me an offer, and kept putting it off and putting it off. Turns out they have no money and don't pay salaries. Damn.
6) A social network site with (unknown to me before I took the job) 70 million users globally. This was a program manager role. A return to regular project management. Hugely disjointed, developers leaping off the ship as if it was the final scenes of Titanic, and a hint of desperation in the air. I was brought in with the expectation of aligning the team in Singapore with the infrastructure and ops teams in KL and Australia. I introduced regular stand up meetings to keep better track of project progress and have everything in view with clear goals to aim for on a daily basis. Soon became clear that each of the teams had been run ragged by certain members of authority in the company, one of whom who has had success in other startups previously in other countries, loved to regale developers with exactly what they should be doing and what object orientated programming is. Very patronising and demotivating. That said, the developers there were a great bunch of people with years of experience and honed skills. I found out quite quickly that there was a mass exodus on the way with several key staff members leaving. It is suggested that the powers that be believe the exodus is down to staff belief in the product rather than the management style not being to their tastes. Hmmm. Anyway, I'm away from this place now too. The powers that be offered up a motivational story that involved calling me a dickhead indirectly; not the best idea. I'd printed a resignation letter, but they said they didnt think it was working out before I had chance to deliver it. Oh well. (Update: they don't pay salaries on time either. What a sin.)
So, I was wondering, is it me?
...well? Is it?
Then I spoke to other expats here who have been through a very similar situation with other startups in Singapore, and like me, have left them when they realised that they weren't good paths to be on.
I'm not too disheartened, and I won't stop working for startups, as I enjoy the challenges.
In conclusion, I love working for startups, I can channel all my energy, and be directly involved with moving a business forwards. I feel involved, I'm always thinking about what's next. I can live the job, rather than just do it 9-5 then switch off and come home.
Perhaps I'll set my own up at some point. I've ideas a plenty...
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