I had a big dilemma whether to go from here to a startup company and just when I thought I'd finally made up my mind about accepting the offer, I saw a post here that some people regretted it.
Is it possible that in a startup, with good growth potential, it can be worse than in this company that is obviously drowning?
Just goto fang instead. You'll get equity for sure instead of startup money.
Startups can be huge hit or miss. And the culture flows downhill from the CEO with little checks and balances. I've had friends who've loved the startups they went to - a lot of responsibilities, fast growth, equity, etc. But Iwould say more than half did not like it. Very little structure, changing priorities non-stop, chaotic environments, tyrannical CEO/minions. And most startups do not succeed - sometimes people forget that.
I would say, do your research and don't go there unless it's compelling. You can get paid more and more reliable equity if you go to a past startup but still growing company that's $1B in revenue.
It also depends on your life situation. If you're 24 with no kids or mortgage, swing for the fences.
A startup is not a bad idea, but a "tech" startup is.
There is no way to be competitive with slave labor coders.
Funny to see fresh fish think otherwise.
Many startups are total sweatshops with no acceptance of the employee's right to have a life outside the company. To complicate things further from the interview(s) I could never tell which was and which wasn't. They all say they aren't.
The great thing about working for a startup is that you really are in charge of your own destiny and can very likely make a difference to the companies ultimate future.
Unlike where you are now, where really it doesn't matter what you do - despite what people might believe.
The other side of it is of course, unlike IBM, one can't be a lazy a-s and do nothing all day.
Good luck.