[quickthrower2]

What is in it for early starters working at a start up? Lower pay, more demands, more stress, probably get shafted on options terms, and they have to be the kinds of people who can probably be the founders of their own thing?

[kypro]

If you're in it for the pay and work-life balance then nothing generally speaking. Working for a very early stage startup should be difficult. You'd be silly to expect job security and you should assume hard and long hours.

The reason I sometimes join them is because I personally find it far more interesting than a corporate gig. The reason I'm here writing this comment and the reason I work in tech is because I've always been interested in tech startups.

The way I've always saw it is that typically within a year (or maybe two) the company will likely have failed and you can move on to something else, or if you're lucky the company will have found its market fit and you should then perhaps expect to be move fairly compensated for your work, and if you're not you'll have a lot of bargaining power within the company.

If you're very lucky, then you'll get to ride the coattails of the success of the company, both in terms of having a likely leadership position in the company and in terms of stock options.

It's high risk / high reward. Take it or leave it.

[quickthrower2]

Thanks. I get that. I think that is why I prefer smaller companies. I find bigger companies usually can’t keep the work interesting but there are some exceptions where teams are carved out.