Startups have a perception they have a lot of choices. Everyone copies and pastes, they get flooded. They are just A/B testing ways to filter through candidates

Startups have a perception they have a lot of choices. Everyone copies and pastes, they get flooded. They are just A/B testing ways to filter through candidates. Don't take the rules too seriously. Simply respond by asking you're expecting the market rate for what your position is. If they press, pursue another lead. It's a numbers game for both sides. Don't take it personally - finding talent and interviewing is very impersonal and mechanical. Keep applying until you find someone who will interview on terms of your technical merit and value you could bring.