I can understand why a good and experienced Engineer would become a founder of a startup. I do not see why a good and experienced Engineer would become an ear

I can understand why a good and experienced Engineer would become a founder of a startup. I do not see why a good and experienced Engineer would become an early employee of a startup, when they can get paid better and treated better for less work at larger corporations. As an employee at a startup, you get most of the downside, and very little of the upside that you would get as a founder. Really? as an Employee, you are far better off with a larger company. Most startups offer some token stock and below-market wages. As such, they are competing, usually, for inexperienced Engineers.