If you're accepted via phone you have to respond right there. If he puts this decision off until then, that gives him only 30 seconds to decide. I think it's better to think this through beforehand.

Yea, but he has to at least get to the interview first. If he isn't invited to that process then there's nothing to even consider. Once invited to an interview, its a good time to start considering any major decisions (and you will have a few weeks). Up until that point, theres nothing to lose but a free weekend in Cali.

You're right in the sense that there's nothing to lose. But if he does get accepted to the interview and decide not to do it, he took the spot from another startup that would probably have accepted.

didn't know its like that.