I've known several bootstrapped startups that did pretty okay paying below-market wages to Engineers. On the other hand, the Engineers taking those below-marke

I've known several bootstrapped startups that did pretty okay paying below-market wages to Engineers. On the other hand, the Engineers taking those below-market wages? Their reward is usually something like market-rate salaries. It's a good deal for people that have been unemployed for a long time or that otherwise have a difficult time landing market-rate jobs, but for people that are both good and confident, it's a pretty bum deal.