[sethbannon]

Some startups prefer developers who are looking for more than just dollars and equity. While important, those are certainly not the only things that motivate us. We're in this because we want to reshape civil society through innovation, and because we're having the time of our lives doing so. Better to have teammates with similar motivations, and not those driven simply by the bottom line.

[synnik]

The fact that you keep jumping in and defending yourself after every negative comment makes you look like you are seriously lacking confidence.

Nobody is questioning that you believe in what you do and are doing well at it, and enjoying your work. What we are questioning is your methods.

Let me put it into perspective (my perspective):

If you want to donate $2000 dollars to heifer.org for each employee, just do it. Don't put it in my name. I have my own charities, and would prefer to make my own choice.

Don't buy me a bike. I am disabled and that perk just slaps me in the face with it.

Don't buy me beer. I do not drink, and find the implication that drinking is required for your culture to be a little creepy.

Don't say that I am getting $2000 for R&D. That is pocket change for true R&D, and makes me worry that not only do you not handle budgets well, but that the companies future innovation funding could get messed up in HR negotiations.

The bottom line is that most of your perks scare me. Not because there is anything wrong with offering them, but because it shows a severe lack of empathy for the diversity of people in this world.

[rguzman]

that's a fair point, but also tangential.

i think research shows that people are not motivated by money. people also don't eat money. but money is the best way to buy food -- and also the best way to buy people's time and skills.

picking where you work has a lot of dimensions, such as work-life balance, location, what impact the company is having, and on and on... a startup wants to attract people who are compatible with the things they value. that's what "being a good fit" means -- that's your point. however, i still don't see the need to do that by offering beer. it seems much better to be clear about the things you as a company care about and expect/ask the same from people you hire.