[MojoJolo]

If I were you, yes.

But a question to ask is... Are you willing to sacrifice?

It might be a short term sacrifice. Because maybe after few months or a year, the startup will be acquired or became a hit. We don't know.

Also, do you have family? If you have, maybe consider to ask them first.

When joining a startup, I always said to myself that it's not about the money. It's about the value (experience, learnings, etc.) you will get.

[lifeisstillgood]

That's fairly dangerous advice - sacrifice if he has a sizeable chunk of equity (>20%) then yes as the upside is big. But an early stage hire will have to work as hard as the founders for basically sod all equity reward if things go well.

There is nothing wrong in working hard and making a name for yourself in a start up that does well. But be aware it is deferring actual real money for the next start up.

[scottalpert]

> experience, learnings,

There are exceptions, but hot startups are usually FAR better than established services companies in precisely those things -- and networking too.

[arvit]

It's a question of where her/his life is going. You gonna rock with the startups or sleep with the services shops?