[tdfx]

So, what are you hoping to get out of this? I ask not in a condescending way, but with hope that you've thoroughly thought this through and understand the tradeoffs you're making. Certainly you could make a good living elsewhere. Is it for resume building? Are you getting insane stock options? How long are you planning to continue at that pace?

[hellounicorn]

Two things, an impressive resume and nice sum of money. As a recent grad it would look awful if I left this "hot startup" a few months after graduating. Secondly, I would be walking away for several hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity.

IDK if this is considered insane, but $100-$250 grand is a really big deal for someone with student debt.

[freeopinion]

How many years of 12-hour days will it take to realize your $250K?

If you were working 9-5 and I offered you a night job for 4 hours a day, would you take it? If I promised you $200K if you did the night job for two years, would you take it? If you got $0 if you quit before the two years was up, would you take it? I can pull out of the deal at any time in the next two years.

I know a guy who scrubs toilets from 4am-8am M-F for $10/hr. He expects that to turn into $100K in about 5 years with careful investment. If he just stuck it in a 0% savings account, it will be $50K in 5 years. Financially, this seems to be a smarter plan than yours. But if you really enjoy what you do in your four extra hours per day, and you really hate scrubbing toilets... maybe your way is better. The point is, there is lots of room to question your choice.

[anothergoogler]

Your second paragraph is one of the sharpest and most original insights I've read on HN in the ten years I've been here. That is a fantastic analogy for vesting cliffs.

[ryanmercer]

> I would be walking away for several hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity.

You'd be walking away with several hundreds of thousands of dollars of promise. Unless they IPO that's effectively worthless.