The Case Against Crowdfunding in the Work Chat

This didn’t seem weird by Silicon Valley standards. Ambitious engineers and product managers sometimes see a stint in Big Tech as a way to gain the experience and financial cushion that will help them create their own startups. It’s not unheard of for founders to start exploring their new thing before they quit their day job. Nor is it unusual for tech workers to put money into each other’s companies. People in the industry can get rich very quickly, thanks to stock grants, and they are often eager to put that money to work. Like many other Big Tech companies, Meta has long allowed employees to invest in outside startups, and many of its executives have been doing so for years. “It’s part of the culture of Silicon Valley,” says Christina Kramlich, a certified financial planner and adviser at Chicory Wealth. “It is definitely common, especially in boom times.”