Excellent point, but equally important is the fact that even if you purchase your < 1% of shared, if you are a regular middle class person, you will probably ha

Excellent point, but equally important is the fact that even if you purchase your < 1% of shared, if you are a regular middle class person, you will probably have no real legal recourse to sue if you get screwed. The investors who are most likely behind it will cover their asses and so far outgun you legally that it is probably hopeless to try to fight even if you have the means. This is where the GGGP (davidwihl) is both right and wrong—knowledge of the cap table at signing won't guarantee anything, but that combined with a good judgement of character is the best you can do. In the end you can get screwed either way, but if there is any caginess up front then run don't walk away.