These kinds of questions are easy to answer if you put yourself in the other persons shoes. I came up with the idea, I coded it, and I got in to an accelerator

These kinds of questions are easy to answer if you put yourself in the other persons shoes. I came up with the idea, I coded it, and I got in to an accelerator. Now a good engineer wants half? No way. I climbed part of the hill without him, I could just keep going. I can hire him 6 months from now after the series A, and get him for 1% as a lead developer. I'll offer him 10% to come on board now, because accelerators are intense and I could use the help. -- If you're not going to be happy with 10%, ask for 20% and call it done. Start-ups are (mostly) bimodal, you'll make a shit ton of money or you won't make a dime. Worrying about a few % points just isn't worth it. Just get enough to feel good and get ready to work.