[taybenlor]

I think you need to look at the positives and the negatives. Work out what risk you are taking, and how that risk can be compensated.

In this case your risk is that after 6 months of working far below market rate you will have nothing to show for it and then be out of a job.

Paying you back market rate at a later date isn't really compensating for it, unless there is some sort of bonus. Sometimes this bonus is equity, but it could just as easily be monetary (often this is how sales people are motivated - work for cheap, but if you sell then you get a large reward).

It's hard to say what compensation you should ask for. The most important factor is that you don't feel like you're being screwed, you should feel happy with the deal. Because if you are unhappy, then that unhappiness will leak through the stress of a startup and probably result in fighting, you hating your job and depression.

[throwaway69]

Thanks for the reply. I dont really feel like I am being screwed. Based on my interaction with the co-founders, they seem like really decent guys and they have been pretty honest about everything. I think its more to do with the fact that I expected some equity or at least a discussion sometime down the line.