[ori_b]

> This is a chance to become a full time employee, the first, with equity and a say in the business.

That's different. Equity is a form of payment (although, admittedly, it is a gamble). However, the way that you advertised it here really makes it sound like you are looking for free work, and a naieve student to take advantage of. And working without any sort of compensation is indeed being taken advantage of.

Also, as a side note, I suspect (and Google seems to support) that American students have far higher costs for going to university -- I believe that in Europe, the tuition fees are significantly cheaper thanks to government subsidies. With lower costs, there's less pressure to earn money to cover the costs.

[weebro]

ori_b, please don't take this all so personally. We are trying to keep costs as low as possible in our startup. Is there such harm in asking? If we get someone, great, if we don't there is no damage done.

You make a valid point above. We are not looking to screw people out of money. We were hoping to offer someone a good experience, and begin line up future employees for when we could afford to pay them.

We apologies, we appear to be poorer than the students :)

[ori_b]

I'm not taking it personally, but really, you need to make it clear that the student's time is valued. Equity is perfectly fine compensation, especially if it's clear that the student is going to be considered for a full-time job.

Just put it into the ad next time, and it might look less like you're trying to screw the students over.