long story but basically 1. bc of the type of product wispr flow is 2. we were just getting better results with paid despite having one of the most successful ugc programs

This isn’t even the craziest part. The notary fee itself is a function of transaction size. Why wouldn’t notaries simply compete on price, you wonder? Because the fees are set by a statutory formula. The cost and hassle (apostille, anyone?) of backing German founders is nuts.

A common failure pattern I see with young people is joining a smaller startup because "they'll get more ownership" (or some similar iteration). When you're young, you should optimize for learning. Sometimes the smaller startup is the right choice. But it's often better to join the known rocketship. It allows you to start compounding your learning and network sooner, which can lead to a big lead over others later.