'If your attitude towards the startup is that cynical, then you shouldn't be working for a startup. Go to bigco where they will pay you lots for doing nothing.'

'If your attitude towards the startup is that cynical, then you shouldn't be working for a startup. Go to bigco where they will pay you lots for doing nothing.' That's just as cynical. There are bigcos that have fantastic projects AND pay you, as well as startups that offer poor pay and little equity in exchange for lots of hot air. Unless it's Google or Facebook (or any other mature startup), I'd better be getting more than 2% if I'm being paid less than 50% of standard market rate. Otherwise, the equity is more of a nice bonus than the main selling point. You're right, many startups will die. All the more reason why people have to be careful about exchanging salary for equity.