The first question people ask is ‘is it safe to join a tech startup?’. And we’re not going to lie to you – of course there are certain risks involved with getting involved at the ground floor with a startup company. 20% fail within the first year, and a further 60% will then go bust over the next three. Although those are scary statistics, the tech startup ecosystem in the UK right now is such an exciting and dynamic space, with innovation and ingenuity around every corner. Here are our top five reasons you should consider joining a tech startup…

1. You’ll never get bored

The thing with tech startups is no one day is going to be the same. At the beginning it’s very much an all-hands-on-deck situation – and part of that is role fluidity. You’re likely to wear a lot of different hats whilst the company grows and establishes itself, meaning you’re going to develop a wide range of skills. Obviously this will come with challenges and isn’t always going to be easy, but it allows you to stretch into your full potential as well as keeping the day-to-day stimulating. Joining a tech startup isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re ambitious, energetic and adaptable – then you fit the bill perfectly.

2. You’ll love your team

Pretty much every company out there is going to have a lot to say about their company culture and how fantastic their team are, but there’s a distinctly collaborative team mindset which is often unique to startup culture. Being in such a small team full of likeminded people all working towards a common goal promotes an atmosphere which is unlike any other, but also gives you an opportunity to mould the culture yourself. Outside of the remit of your small crew, there’s also lots of people in the same position. Tech startup conferences are a great place to meet other founders or team members (a good place to start looking is Bizzabo’s comprehensive yearly list) and although there’s bound to be a level of competition, it’s a really good idea to network and broaden your horizons.

3. You’ll find a new sense of purpose

Have you ever had that overpowering feeling of passion about something? A goal that makes you excited to get out of bed – that you can’t wait to share with anyone who will listen? That is what it feels like to work in the right startup. There are so many amazing endeavours and projects going on in the tech world right now – climatetech, medtech, edtech, the list goes on – and it’s a case of finding one that makes you feel alive. The tech startup is made for entrepreneurs and visionaries - you’re not just going to be coming up with some new ideas but ripping up the playbook and starting from scratch. It’s all about a deep, fundamental sense of purpose that invigorates you and that will carry you through whatever challenges you might face.

4. You’ll actually be listened to

In big businesses, often your voice either gets completely lost in the shuffle or your creativity is stifled by prescriptive job roles and responsibilities. Or worst-case scenario, you’ll be (patronisingly) reassured your idea will be taken into account – and a few weeks down the line, it’s clear that this was very much an empty promise, and your proposition was probably discounted the second it left your mouth. In small startup teams, your voice is not just going to be heard but actively listened to. They want you to share your insight and ideas; this is what startups thrive on! Your creativity is going to be nurtured and celebrated in a way it often isn’t in larger business models, because it’s the lifeblood of tech startups.

5. You’re going to be at the start of something potentially huge

Yes, we started this blog by giving you some pretty scary statistics – but if your startup succeeds, you could potentially be involved in the inception of something ground-breaking. Everyone knows the legendary stories like Facebook and Google, but you don’t have to look so far afield to find startup success. Two of our favourite tech companies Clue and Floww have smashed barriers to succeed, from the very first stages of bootstrapping to now spearheading innovation in their sectors. If you want to feel excited about the possibilities of joining a tech startup, just go and have a little look at their journeys. Another good place to get a flavour of the unprecedented work going on right now is the National StartUp Awards where you’ll be able to get an idea of the ways in which the industry is flourishing currently.

If this blog has inspired you to take the leap, head to our live Jobs Board to stay up to date with any opportunities in the tech startup world.

Or if you’d just like to chat about tech startups, whether you’re a candidate or founder, get in contact with our co-founder and CEO Alan Furley on LinkedIn or call us on 0117 428 0600.