Ask HN: Why would anyone work for a startup?

4 points by factorymoo 2 years ago | 8 comments

This is in response to a HN post from today [Autotab](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/autotab/jobs/V5V8saO-founding-engineer)

"We are building a tiny, ambitious team that works shoulder-to-shoulder 6 days / week."

"Compensation: $130 - $180 / 0.50% - 2.49% Location: NYC"

Why would anyone work six days a week for 0.5%?

At 0.5% ownership, the company needs a $40million valuation for this equity to be worth $200K pre-tax.

If they have more investment rounds and you get diluted to 0.1%, for the equity to be worth $200K the company needs a $200million valuation.

So here's my question: What factors might make these terms appealing, or what might be the reasons someone would consider such a role despite these conditions?

edit: "these conditions" being average/low base, equity with tiny prospects of becoming life-changing money, work 6 days a week

legitster 2 years ago |

I'm stuck on that 6-day workweek thing. It's like admitting you don't want people to be good at their job! I get it that sometimes in a startup you need people willing to go into crunch time. But saying you are planning for every single week to be crunch time means you just suck at leadership and are obsessed with control.

And what's worse, it's for an automation company!

> Work on one of the most important problems in the field. Digital robots will unlock the next 100x productivity increase, and free humans from trillions of hours of soul-crushing work.

"We need you to put in 60 hour weeks to save people from soul-crushing work"

If you are the founder who posted this job listing and happen to be reading this post, you fundamentally need to change your attitude about your business. You are explicitly making a business culture of misunderstanding your customer base. If you don't appreciate the value of a life or personal time, do not run an automation company.

verdverm 2 years ago |

Startups are more challenging and interesting. Your work also has significant impact.

If your motivation is primarily money with reliable odds, startups are not the path.

Most people choose to work at a startup for different reasons, the mission is the main reason for me.

factorymoo 2 years ago | |

That's fair, though I would argue that you have more impact within the organisation, but not necessarily more impact on more users.

verdverm 2 years ago | | |

Impact is in the eyes of the beholder, how much impact to you have on company direction or product decisions in a large org?

There is also a distinct lack of bureaucracy and politics in small orgs compared to large orgs

noashavit 2 years ago |

2.5% is generous!

People pick a startup, rather than an established company, for the potential benefit of coming in on the ground-level of a future unicorn, so equity matters BIG time.

As for the 6 days a week thing, I think they are setting expectations and filtering out the 9-5ers. I don't think they would realistically ask for an on-going 6 day commitment, but they are trying to target those that would not shy away from that ask.

MattGaiser 2 years ago |

> We think the most exciting thing you can do is build a great company tackling an important problem

At least, from the way, these founders are describing it, they’re looking for someone who agrees with this viewpoint.

So it isn’t about the money for them.

ImPostingOnHN 2 years ago | |

> So it isn’t about the money for them.

One wonders who would own the other 92.5% (YC gets 7%), if the founding team isn't about the money.

JSDevOps 2 years ago |

Doing actual engineering work rather than sat In endless talking heads meetings.