That is why I collected a list of the top interview questions you should ask a start-up company. Below you will find many of the most important questions that you need to get the answers to before making a decision.
- What is the most important thing that needs to be accomplished for the startup to succeed? The answer to this question will help you determine if the company is focused with clear goals and vision, and if those goals are in line with the job you are interviewing for.
- How much financial backing do they have and when is the next funding round? You want to know where their funding comes from and how much funding they currently have. You will also want to know when they expect their next round of funding. The last thing you want is to start a new job only to be let go a few months later because they ran out of money.
- How long have the investors given them to make the startup a success?
- What is the market opportunity for their products and services?
- What are the founders goals and objectives? Do they want to take the company public someday or own and operate it for a long time? You want to make sure their goals align with yours and the other founders if there are any.
- What is their exit strategy? If they are in this to be acquired what time frame are they hoping this will happen?
- How do they intend to make money? What sort of sales strategy will they use?
- What is the main focus for the next 3, 6, 12 months?
- Are they planning to add other products or services to the pipeline? If so what is the timeline?
- What sort of work environment or culture do they want to establish?
- What problem are they trying to solve?
These are just a few questions that you should ask your interviewer. You still may not have enough information however it’s a good start. At the end of the day nobody knows how successful the startup will be, however by interviewing the startup company just as they are interviewing you, you will be equipped with more information to ensure that you make the best decision possible.