[gjenkin]

If your startup does eventually take off, you will have to hire people. But I'm afraid that no one (no one of significant worth anyway) will want to work for you if your attitude is that "working at someone else's startup is a recipe for getting exploited". How will you, as a founder, do things differently?

[smikhanov]

You won't. Without exceptions, all founders I know that seem to have a chance to succeed are huge manipulators. I even think that this is a prerequisite to startup success. Those founders just have this special combination of personality and charisma that makes it almost impossible to say "no" to them, even if a minute ago you blamed yourself for allowing to exploit you.

[rick888]

"How will you, as a founder, do things differently?"

Pay developers what they are worth. If you can't afford it, then you are doing something wrong.

[mmt]

Exactly. TFA's theme is having employees invest cash by taking below market salaries.

Smart, experienced[1], disciplined employees will expect this to be a choice. Some may take the equity. Others will insist on the cash.

I agree that if one can't afford the latter, one is doing something wrong.

[1] In the ways of startups and the tech industry in general

[z0r]

Run the startup as a syndicate with democratically determined division of duties and compensation, of course!