HN Explorer

Poll: Would you go for reduce pay and some equity to join a startup?

1 points by us ↗ HN
1. I realize this heavily depends on the situation/idea/etc and each scenario may differ greatly. But having said that, try your best to vote for an answer with what is said and assume the ideal scenario.

2. Startup in this case are fresh companies either pre-Series A or post-Series A. Companies like Facebook or the like does not count even if they are considered a startup. We're talking about smaller ground zero just done with prototype kind of startups.

3. Assume that typically your salary will probably drop to mid 5-figures/year ($36k to $60 depending on location) and you'll receive the typical 1-5 pts as an early stage employee. Assuming the startup does well or raises money, you will get closer to normal salary. Typical 4 year vesting applies.

How many here would consider reduce pay + equity and join a startup and how many would not. There have been various threads in the past on HN regarding whether its worth it for hackers to join a startup for equity and many people come into this with various arguments of different kinds on both sides. I'd like to know what each persons thoughts are on this and get a more accurate up to date number of where people stand.

PS I came up with a short list of stuff for the poll that I figured would be appropriate for voting. If your answer does not fall into any of the options, pick 'Other'.

3 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 19.3 ms ] thread
bartonfink
Low 5-figures a year is a hell of a wide range as far as quality of life goes. $10k a year is sub-minimum wage, for example, and that's going to be a hard pill to swallow. $50k a year, depending on location, could be a decent living wage.

I'd need more information on where in that range we're talking before I could offer anything close to a reasoned opinion.

us
Perhaps that was bad wording, I edited it. Let's talk about $36k to $60k depending on location.
mindcrime
Yes, under the right circumstances. The salary would have to be at least enough to scrape by while eating Ramen, the equity would have to be enough that I'd get rich if the company succeeds, I'd have to be in a position to have some genuine input into the company's direction and to impact it's chance for success, and - most importantly - I'd have to believe that the company is going to blow-up, and make us all rich.

Under those circumstances, it would be a possibility (in a hypothetical sense anyway. Right this very minute I'm working on my own project, and it would be hard to sway me to join someone else's startup.)