the real villain here are the VCs and to some extend YC for promoting them. VCs are the ones who perpetuate the myth of "work 80 hours a week for a startup at

the real villain here are the VCs and to some extend YC for promoting them. VCs are the ones who perpetuate the myth of "work 80 hours a week for a startup at 50% market rate and you'll be rich in 4 years". In reality, they take all the preferred stock so that even if the company sells out for double or more what it was worth when you join, you end up with nothing. I've worked at a startup that sold for 4x what it was worth when I joined, and I still ended up with nothing. A couple guys who had been there longer ended up with a few thousand dollars. What a scam! Work at a large, established organization and earn your fair market rate at a 40 hour work week, and start your own company on the side if you want to get rich folks. I'd never work for any startup again unless I was the founder.