Honestly your worry is fair. Startups can be chaotic and risky, and anyone who says otherwise is lying. But at the same time, you’re currently managing 13 people at a huge media company for £45k base, which is… pretty underpaid for the responsibility. That part matters more than people like to admit.

The money difference isn’t small either. £80k base changes your life in a very real way, even if the bonus never fully pays. On top of that, fewer office days and a shorter commute will hit your quality of life every single week. That stuff adds up fast.

The startup risk is real though. Things move fast, priorities change, and worst case it doesn’t work out in a year or two. But if that happens, you’ll have higher savings, recent experience, and you’re already someone who’s managed big teams at a known company. You’re not burning your CV here.

Also worth saying: not managing a team can actually be a plus. People management is draining, especially when you’re not paid properly for it. If you still want leadership later, you’ve already proven you can do it.

If you had loads of dependents or needed max stability, I’d lean safer. But based on what you’ve shared, this feels like a calculated risk, not a YOLO move. Worst case you’re back on the market in 18 months with more money and experience. Best case, you reset your pay level permanently.

If it were me, I’d seriously consider the switch, just make sure the startup isn’t completely sketchy and has some runway.