Been there, done that. Do not get into this unless you are comfortable that: 1. There is an objective way to measure your performance 2. That way does not dep

Been there, done that. Do not get into this unless you are comfortable that: 1. There is an objective way to measure your performance 2. That way does not depend on any team level/company level objectives like finalizing a business model, completing a prototype, making a sale, getting funded - as a fresh grad, you will have little to no impact on any of these, and so you should neither be rewarded nor penalized for these 3. The current finances and burn rate of the startup makes you feel comfortable that the company will have the money to make the upgrade without hitch. 4a. You have absolute trust in the founders that they will stick to their word 4b. get the criteria in a contract on second thoughts, if 4a is not true, you shouldn't join the startup anyway - startups have a lot more dependent on the founders being moral rather than a large company where everything is process driven. Also, if you have to go the 4b route, you will potentially leave them with ill feeling towards you ('this guy doesn't even trust us'). Meaning you wouldn't/shouldn't get hired.