[xiphias2]

I believe the solution is to be informed.

Most of the problems I read about here in HN from founders come from information asymmetry: VCs have much more experience in negotiating. Still, I can't pity the founders, as it's always the employees in startups that get the worst deal. I was working only 1 year at a startup in my life as an employee, and I got burned out after 1 year. Working at a big company is so much easier, as it has the network effect already.

[Mitchhhs]

Its not always being just informed. Its the difference between knowledge and wisdom. You may know all these things up front and make the same decision to take VC because of other factors, prestige, the easy money, thinking you will be the billion dollar company. Then things don't go as planned, the rubber meets the road, and the cool sound of telling people you raised VC wears off. Then you realize why all of these articles are written and write one yourself.

[xiphias2]

I see. It's just so easy to get to a few million dollars of wealth over time if somebody's good enough to get to a big company and invest with a healthy diversification.

I really don't understand why people are risking that to be a billionaire with a small probability, when the difference in the lifestyle that that money allows is probably not that big.

I'm sure it's cool to be a billionaire for some time, but also it probably wears out quite fast when you get back to work.

[jim-greer]

Well put.