I find some of the attitudes towards equity / cash salary baffling. If you care about the "safety" of a cash salary, join a big, established company. You'll h

I find some of the attitudes towards equity / cash salary baffling. If you care about the "safety" of a cash salary, join a big, established company. You'll have limited upside but a more stable cash income. No risk, no reward. If you are joining a startup, it is by definition because you want to take on risk. The reward for that risk is by far captured in the increase in the value of the equity, not the cash compensation. It does not make sense to join a startup and not want to maximize your exposure to the upside in the form of equity.