> Far better to offer something the big boys can't: like significant responsibility (that by definition, always comes with the act of taking on substantial risk

> Far better to offer something the big boys can't: like significant responsibility (that by definition, always comes with the act of taking on substantial risk); real challenge, an opportunity (and expectation) to not only see, but contribute strategically to the whole picture -- including things like business strategy, shaping the company's hiring & general social culture, etc. Not to mention things like decent office space, lack of bureaucracy that's inevitable in any large organization, etc. This is what I enjoy the most about working for a young startup. In my current job, I'm the first hire at a TechStars company. I have the freedom and responsibility to get things done and take on challenging tasks. I don't have a lot of experience on paper so the opportunity to take on this level of responsibility is huge for me personally and far more important than free beer or whatever.