The percentage of Harvard Business School MBAs who landed jobs with startups--defined as an organization that is still private and 10 years of age or younger--fell sharply last year during the pandemic to 10% from 17% a year earlier. Even so, many MBAs like the idea of joining a startup out of school because they will more likely be exposed to every aspect of the business instead of playing a more narrow role in a larger company. Median base salaries for MBAs joining a startup hit a record $140,000.