Who Succeeds at an Early-Stage Startup?
I recently sat down with Isabel Rasmussen, founder of Proceso Talent, to discuss what makes engineers thrive at early-stage startups on the Your Next Tech Startup podcast. Beyond just the key traits we've seen in successful engineers, we also covered some related topics like misconceptions about working at a startup, how engineering is different at early-stage companies, and benefits you can't find working somewhere more established. Make sure you check out the podcast episode for the full conversation!
Here though, I'd like to expand on the traits which make for successful engineers at early-stage, pre-product-market-fit companies.
Being Comfortable with Ambiguity
Startups are defined by constantly shifting priorities, blurry roles, and daily unexpected challenges. Engineers who succeed in this environment aren’t rattled by the unknown—they thrive in it.
Rather than waiting for a roadmap that will never come, they find their own answers. They talk to founders, engage with users, and/or make educated guesses on what problems to solve and how to solve them.
A common thing that burns people out at startups is seeing all this perpetual ambiguity and treating it as a problem to be solved, rather than accepting that it is a startup’s natural state.
Wearing Multiple Hats
Successful startup engineers are often generalists, not confined to any one area of engineering work. But the great ones are also comfortable with regular context switching, moving between debugging infrastructure issues, building user- facing features, or handling user support inquiries.
If you prefer sticking to one area of expertise for months at a time, a startup might not be the best fit. But if you enjoy switching gears and solving whatever is most urgent, you’ll likely find it exciting and fulfilling.
Product Minded
Do you care not just about how you're building something, but also who you're building it for and why? That's a plus! No one is going to hand you a fully fleshed out spec of what to build. Needing input on every minor decision will slow things down, but if you want to make these calls yourself, you might just thrive.
A Narrow Definition of Done
Successful startup engineers don’t just focus on technical details; they care deeply about the product and the users. Instead of obsessing over the “perfect” solution, they ask: What’s the fastest way to test if this feature is valuable?
In the startup world, this means shipping imperfect solutions and refining them later, rather than holding out for a flawless final product. Speed beats perfection every time.
Know When to Ignore Tech Debt
Engineers who struggle at startups often obsess over avoiding tech debt. While long-term maintainability is important, early-stage companies don’t have the luxury of perfect systems.
The best startup engineers understand when to take shortcuts and when to clean things up. Every startup product will eventually need to be rewritten, so the focus should be on proving its value first. If you spend too much time making it perfect, the company might never reach that point.
Final Thoughts
Succeeding at an early-stage startup isn’t just about having great coding skills—it’s about mindset. If you need stability, structure, and clear expectations, a startup will be frustrating. But if you love solving problems, wearing multiple hats, and working in a fast-moving environment, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career.
Before joining a startup, ask yourself: Do I enjoy figuring things out on the fly? Can I focus on the product rather than obsessing over technical perfection? Am I okay with constant change and uncertainty? If the answer is yes, a startup could be exactly the kind of challenge you’re looking for.
