| No, you're getting a raw deal. The idea that you can't get equity because you're in another country is absurd. Foreigners can freely own property in the USA, including equity in companies. The only requirement is that you pay US taxes on it if you sell it. The correct offer, if they want to conserve cash, is to take the 2/3 of the salary they are not paying you in the first 6 months, convert that directly into stock (not options) at the same price that the founders are doing so, and give you a bonus on top of that for risk of say %25-%50 of the stock value. If they want to stop giving you stock after 6 months, then paying you the amount they're proposing to pay you now would be fair (at least to make up the 2/3 you missed out on for 6 months.) Basically they're asking you to take as much risk as they are, yet they're going to screw you on equity and on income. And they're not even offering it as a deferred salary (which would give them the legal obligation to pay it.) To be honest, looking at this deal, it communicates to me that these people are not honest and you should not do business with them. I could be misreading something, but it sounds like they're trying to cheat you and use your nationality as an excuse. -- Edit to add: This is the reason for equity in startups. To allow cash poor startups to attract good talent. They're trying to not pay you (until some imagined future cash infusion at which point they can fire you) and not give you equity.... you're going to do the 6 months of work that earns them the big venture capital and then they can replace you without you getting any equity? That's why I think this transcends raw deal into the realm of cheating you. (And normally I'm of the "whatever two people agree to is none of my business" persuasion. But you asked here so this is my opinion. It doesn't matter how great the idea is or the other guys, if you're not going to be able to participate in the long term. Equity measn they want you around, no equity means they'll replace you in those 6 months.) |