How small is the company ? If it is under 50 people and lets say you leave, will it go through a tough time to run the tech. operations without you ? Anyone can

How small is the company ? If it is under 50 people and lets say you leave, will it go through a tough time to run the tech. operations without you ? Anyone can be replaced technically but at what cost. If the answer is that shit will hit the fan and the founder(s) really want you on board, then you should get some skin in the game other than salary/benefits. However, what you need to do is to go talk to the founder(s). If you feel strongly, make a case for it. As a founder myself, I have higher standards for someone who wants equity (just the nature of the beast). Doesn't mean I now expect you to work weekends but for anything significant (>5%), you do need to make a case on why and it may mean thinking about the company more than you do currently. Just being honest. The most important question to answer is: Why do you want equity ? Do you want it because you feel that you are entitled to profits that you help generate with tech or do you actually really like the company/product and want a long term commitment to see the company grow further and want to be part of the reward that comes with it ? 2 different things. As a founder, it is critical for me to understand the "why". If it is the latter and founders are smart, they should see and value it. If they don't, they are telling you that you are easily replaceable or they don't value you enough to give you equity. Then you will have to make a call.