[omgitstom]

Talk to them about it.

Are you excited to join the company? Do you believe in their vision? Do you find excitement in the problems that they are helping their customer's solve? Do you feel good cohesion with the founders and the engineering team?

Answering those questions are far more valuable in deciding to join a startup vs compensation. The compensation piece, if you feel is low, research and negotiate for it. If you can't find a common ground on compensation that would make you happy to work there, then don't join them.

[cuca_de_chumbo]

Their vision is great. They don't do rocket-science and they're not involved in social. Their market is positively boring, and it's something everyone needs, and nobody seems to have updated software addressing this market. Their approach requires a good core and also a lot of reliable peripheral development. I don't think there are any technical misgivings on their part toward me (I've proven my ability, programming-, vision-, and communication-wise), and I like working with them. I'm not sure we can settle on anything after the lowball though ... it betrays their lack of respect for the position or else for engineers.

[Domenic_S]

They were right to give you the offer they did looking at your reaction.

$130k is not lowball. 0.2% is not lowball. Both are on the mid-to-low side of appropriate if we take you at your word for skill and fit.

More than that, respect has nothing to do with it. Just rm -rf that whole train of thought from your head. Compensation negotiations are negotiations, which means this is a conversation. Conversations go two ways. If you're not happy with the offer, counter.

[lawnchair_larry]

Lowball is a strong word, but it's below market. If startups can't compete on total comp, they have to pad it with equity. OP is getting worst of both worlds. 0.2% of a pre-VC company is absolutely nothing, and there are several engineers ahead of him for seniority, so he won't even get title inflation in the end.

It's not that it's an insulting offer, it's just that they can't afford you. For a fresh grad, it would be a pretty sweet deal.

[Domenic_S]

$130k cash is very strong from a seed-funded startup. I agree completely with your final sentence.