You're welcome. I wish more startup founders would ask what developers actually want instead of making (often idiotic) assumptions. To answer your followup qu

You're welcome. I wish more startup founders would ask what developers actually want instead of making (often idiotic) assumptions. To answer your followup questions: > 1) I'm feeling more and more that we as a startup have to convince the engineer that we are worth joining us. Yes. This. Even mediocre software developers have tons of opportunities open to them these days. You need to convince them why they should work for you instead of the other guys. Frankly, that should be the case with any employee, but it's even more so in a market where talent is scarce and opportunities abound. > 2) Do you think it's possible to propose reduced rate for some period of time (until investments come to the bank account)? That depends. A) Is that investment deal already closed and signed, and just waiting for the funds to land? B) Why should I believe you'll ever have that money? C) Will I be getting back pay to my full rate once the money does land? D) What's the incentive to me to take that risk at all, when I could just get a job with a company that will pay me in full now? Am I going to be paid interest on what's essentially money I'm lending to the company during that period? [In short, the answer is "probably not", but maybe if you can find someone unusually trusting or desperate, in which case you may want to ask yourselves why they're so desperate.] Good luck!