Declining Airbnb, Snapchat, and Uber for a Stealth Startup

In 2016, a former employee of large companies like Amazon and Qualcomm decided to join Sigma, a stealth mode startup, as their first frontend engineer despite having offers from more established companies. Initially, Sigma faced challenges such as not having a clear product-market fit and lacking users, which led to doubts and burnout among the team. However, a pivotal moment came when the company decided to build its spreadsheet interface on top of Snowflake, transforming its product approach and securing Snowflake as its first alpha customer. This strategic pivot marked a turning point, leading to significant growth, successful fundraisers, and the acquisition of high-profile clients like Philz Coffee and AutoDesk. Today, Sigma is on track to become a unicorn, with rapid year-over-year growth and an expanding team, making it an attractive destination for potential new hires.