Should You Quit Your Job At A Unicorn?

TL;DR

The video argues that of the 1400 unicorns, roughly two-thirds will not succeed via IPO or high-value acquisition, and late-stage employees often hold underwater options because strike prices are tied to inflated valuations.

Key insights

• The "unicorn" label does not guarantee employees will profit; equity often ends up underwater if the company is sold for less than its last private valuation.
• Fundraising announcements can be delayed (e.g., a round closed a year ago but announced now), making them an unreliable signal of current health.
• Only about one-third of 1400 unicorns will likely go public successfully; the rest will fail or be acquired for less.