Established TAS OR Startup Merchant Bank

Hi All,

I am glad my friend referred me to this site for job Q&As. I graduated from a semi-target with a decent GPA, and I spent the last 3 years working at a no-name M&A firm (deals range $4-$25M). My duties were 40% BD and 60% modeling, pitch decks, client relationship etc... Now, I'm on the market and at the final stage for two firms in Cali.

The positions are 1) Big 4 Transaction advisory Manager (team of 5) and 2) Sr. Associate for a newly founded merchant bank (just the founder).

Assuming I receive offers from both firms. Which offer should I consider? The established big4 or the startup? The pay isn't too much of a concern for me at this point.

Should I be concerned with the startup MB? Although somewhat unrelated, I have heard horror stories from analysts working at a mini start-ups hedge funds ($40M AUM). The fund pretty much closed after 2 years.

Marc