[btown]

> sold off as a team like cattle

I'm not sure I can recall the last time cattle were sold off as a team because their abilities were respected; perhaps the closest team of domesticated animals we can find changing hands between companies would be the Budweiser Clydesdales, from wherever they came from; even this example is strained. Nay (neigh?), engineers should take pride in being acquired - you suddenly have a whole new world of resources and collaborators opened up to you, even if you end up having to pivot the original concept, and you have the best of both worlds in terms of having a group of people to enter a company with, and being able to talk about your achievements at the previous engagement. And if you were in a startup to begin with, did you expect that you wouldn't pivot ever?

You and your friends aren't saleable assets, you're the company. And that's something to take pride in.